Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics

America’s

Young Adults:

Special Issue, 2014

Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics

America’s 

Young Adults:

Special Issue, 2014
Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics

The Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics was founded in 1994. Executive Order No. 13045 formally 

established the Forum in April 1997 to foster coordination and collaboration in the collection and reporting of Federal data on 

children and families. Agencies that are members of the Forum as of Spring 2014 are listed below.

Department of Agriculture

Economic Research Service

http://www.ers.usda.gov

Department of Commerce

U.S. Census Bureau

http://www.census.gov

Department

Department of Education

National Center for Education Statistics

http://nces.ed.gov

Department of Health and Human Services

Administration for Children and Families

http://www.acf.hhs.gov

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

http://www.ahrq.gov

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child 

Health and Human Development

http://www.nichd.nih.gov

Maternal and Child Health Bureau

http://www.mchb.hrsa.gov

National Center for Health Statistics

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs

National Institute of Mental Health

http://www.nimh.nih.gov

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and 

Evaluation

http://aspe.hhs.gov

Office of Adolescent Health 

http://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration

http://www.samhsa.gov

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Office of Policy Development and Research

http://www.huduser.org

Department of Justice

Bureau of Justice Statistics

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs

National Institute of Justice

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

http://www.ojjdp.gov/

Department of Labor

Bureau of Labor Statistics

http://www.bls.gov

Women’s Bureau

http://www.dol.gov/wb

Department of Transportation

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov

Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Children’s Health Protection 

http://www.epa.gov/children/

Office of Management and Budget

Statistical and Science Policy Office

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg_statpolicy

Recommended citation: Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics. America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014. 

Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

This report was printed by the U.S. Government Printing Office in cooperation with the National Center for Health Statistics, 

July 2014.

Single copies are available through the Health Resources and Services Administration Information Center while supplies last: 

P.O. Box 2910, Merrifield, VA 22116; Toll-Free Lines: 1-888-Ask-HRSA(4772), TTY: 1-877-4TY-HRSA; Fax: 703-821-2098; 

E-mail: ask@hrsa.gov. This report is also available on the World Wide Web: http://childstats.gov.
For further information, visit iii

Table of Contents

Foreword...................................................................................................................................................................... v

Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................................................ v

Background................................................................................................................................................................. vi

Conceptual Framework ............................................................................................................................................... vi

Structure of the Report............................................................................................................................................... vii

Statistical Significance ................................................................................................................................................ vii

Report Coverage and Methods................................................................................................................................... vii

Indicator Criteria ......................................................................................................................................................viii

For Further Information............................................................................................................................................viii

Highlights.................................................................................................................................................................viii

Data Sources ................................................................................................................................................................ x

Demographic Context................................................................................................................................................ xii

Demographics ...............................................................................................................................1

Demographic Characteristics........................................................................................................................................2

Group Quarters............................................................................................................................................................3

Military Participation ...................................................................................................................................................4

Imprisonment Rates.....................................................................................................................................................5

Education ......................................................................................................................................7

Educational Attainment ...............................................................................................................................................8

Enrollment Rates..........................................................................................................................................................9

College Costs and Indebtedness .................................................................................................................................10

Neither Enrolled in School Nor Working ...................................................................................................................12

Economic Circumstances...............................................................................................................15

Labor Force................................................................................................................................................................16

Median Earnings........................................................................................................................................................17

Housing Problems......................................................................................................................................................19

Health Insurance........................................................................................................................................................20

Family Formation.........................................................................................................................21

Living Arrangements..................................................................................................................................................22

Births to Young Adult Women ...................................................................................................................................23

http://childstats.gov
iv America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014 America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014

Table of Contents (cont.)

Civic, Social, and Personal Behavior.............................................................................................25

Voting ........................................................................................................................................................................26

Time Use....................................................................................................................................................................27

Leisure-Time Physical Activity ...................................................................................................................................28

Cigarette Smoking......................................................................................................................................................29

Contraception............................................................................................................................................................30

Health and Safety........................................................................................................................31

Usual Source of Health Care ......................................................................................................................................32

Obesity ......................................................................................................................................................................33

Substance Use Disorder..............................................................................................................................................34

Major Depressive Episode ..........................................................................................................................................35

Sexually Transmitted Disease Treatment .....................................................................................................................36

Injury Mortality .........................................................................................................................................................37

Nonfatal Violent Victimization Rates.........................................................................................................................38

Notes to Indicators.....................................................................................................................................................39

Detailed Tables...........................................................................................................................................................45
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov v

FOREWORD

The well-being of young adults in the United States today remains an area of key interest to the public and policy-makers 

alike. This age group faces the well-known challenges of achieving financial and social independence while forming their own 

households at a time of greater economic uncertainty than in the past. Better understanding of the achievements and needs of 

these young adults will inform approaches to best support this exciting and challenging transition to adulthood.

Over the 20 years since it held its first organizational meetings, the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family 

Statistics (the Forum) has established a tradition of cooperation and commitment to understanding the challenges and 

opportunities facing children and families today. This year, in a Special Issue on America’s Young Adults, the Forum extends 

that commitment to describing the well-being of youth as they transition into adulthood. Next year, the Forum will issue its 

customary full report, America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being.

Katherine K. Wallman

Chief Statistician 

Office of Management and Budget

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This report reflects the commitment of the members of the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics. The 

report was conceptualized and written by a workgroup of young adult data providers and Forum staff, including Traci Cook, 

Forum Coordinator; Forum Principal Evelyn Kappeler, Office of Adolescent Health; Renee Ellis and Robert Kominski, 

Census Bureau; Alexia Cooper and Erica Smith, Bureau of Justice Statistics; Brecht Donoghue, Office for Juvenile Justice 

and Delinquency Prevention; Forum Principal Yuko Whitestone, Department of Defense; Forum Principal Tom Snyder and 

Susan Aud, National Center for Education Statistics; Lisa Williamson and Steve Henderson, Bureau of Labor Statistics; Barry 

Steffen, Department of Housing and Urban Development; Forum Principal Jennifer Madans, Susan Lukacs, and Patricia 

Pastor, National Center for Health Statistics; Ingrid Goldstrom and Beth Han, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration; Regina Bures, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; Seth Chamberlain and Jason 

Despain, Administration for Children and Families; Laura Chadwick, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and 

Evaluation; and Jennifer Park, Office and Management and Budget. 

In addition to the report authors, active members of the on-call and writing committees who supported the contextual 

development of the report included: Forum Principal Shelli Avenevoli, National Institute of Mental Health; Katrina 

Baum, National Institute of Justice; Forum Principal David Johnson, formerly of the Census Bureau; Matthew Davis, 

Environmental Protection Agency; Grace Kena, National Center for Education Statistics; Alisha Coleman-Jensen, Economic 

Research Service; LaJeana Howie, National Center for Health Statistics; and Meena Karithanom, National Institute on Drug 

Abuse.

Other staff members of the Forum agencies provided data or wrote parts of the report. They include Megan J. Benetsky, 

Thomas A. File, and Tiffany A. Julian, Census Bureau; Robin A. Cohen, Casey E. Copen, Catherine R. Duran, Charlotte A. 

Schoenborn, Joyce C. Abma, Ari Miniño, Stephanie J. Ventura, Cynthia A. Reuben, Cheryl D. Fryar, Holly B. Hedegaard, and 

Kenneth B. Quinto, National Center for Health Statistics.

Additionally, Simone Robers, Katie Mallory (MacroSys), Allison Dziuba, and Susan Armstrong with American Institutes for 

Research, and Richard Devens, with First XV Communications, assisted Forum staff in producing the report.
vi America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014

BACKGROUND

The Forum, a collaboration of 22 Federal government agencies involved in research and activities related to children and 

families, was founded in 1994 and formally established in April 1997 under Executive Order No. 13045. The mission of the 

Forum is to foster coordination and collaboration and to enhance and improve consistency in the collection and reporting of 

Federal data on children and families.

During alternate publication years of America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, the Federal Interagency 

Forum on Child and Family Statistics (the Forum) typically publishes a Brief report, highlighting a short selection from its 

41 key indicators. A Brief report also includes an At-A-Glance section to show significant data changes for those indicators 

highlighted. Data tables for all America’s Children report indicators are updated annually online at the Forum’s childstats.gov 

Web site.

For the first time, the Forum is publishing a Special Issue during the alternate report year, rather than the typical Brief. The 

America’s Children 2014 At-A-Glance and updated report tables for all 41 indicators can be found at http://childstats.gov.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The transition to adulthood is a complex journey. Just as early childhood is marked by certain developmental milestones, there 

are developmental changes and events that mark the transition to adulthood. In the United States, the age of legal adulthood 

varies by state but is typically 18 years, after which they are regarded as independent, self-sufficient, and responsible under 

the law. However, although no longer adolescents, many individuals ages 18–24 are “emerging adults,” who are not fully 

independent and have not completed the transition to adult roles in families, households, or the workforce.

Transitioning to adulthood is generally signaled by particular life events that are markers of independence, including finishing 

school, starting a full-time job, leaving the home, getting married, or becoming a parent for the first time.1 In the early 1900s, 

these events became increasingly standardized and age related; people were more likely to follow a particular order of events 

and a particular set of ages became associated with each event. From the mid-1900s until about the 1980s, these events 

occurred at increasingly younger ages and in a shorter span of time; the transition to adulthood was condensed into just a few 

years. In contrast, during the last few decades, social and economic circumstances have changed significantly, extending the 

transition period during which youth become firmly established and settled into adulthood.2 There has also been increasing 

variability in the order and timing of these events; young adults are now much more likely to forge their own individual path 

through the transition to adulthood.

Because they may be entering committed relationships, seeking and finishing higher education, launching their careers or work 

life, serving their country in the military, creating their own households or starting their own families, and engaging in civic or 

community activities, young adults are at a significant and pivotal period of life. While this can be an exciting, growth-filled 

time of life, it is also possible that young adults are experiencing economic hardships, becoming disassociated from constructive 

activities such as work or school, dealing with long-lasting medical or mental health issues, or engaging in risky behaviors. As 

adults under the law, they no longer have the advantages of programmatic support systems for juveniles that were available 

during their childhood and adolescence. This age group is undergoing tremendous social transformations, and it is a challenge 

for research to fully address the wide range of issues. This year’s Special Issue reports on the characteristics of young adults, the 

current opportunities and challenges they face, and the implications of possible trajectories for their futures and their families.
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov vii

STRUCTURE OF THE REPORT

This report focuses on key themes that are of particular relevance in describing the demographic status and well-being of 

today’s young adults against a backdrop of the traditional milestones of adulthood—Education; Economic Circumstances; 

Family Formation; Civic, Social, and Personal Behavior; and Health and Safety. Hyperlinks to data sources referenced in the 

America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014 are included in the report.

This Special Issue provides data on young adults, focusing on their demographic characteristics, living situations, and overall 

well-being. The data come from several nationally representative, federally sponsored surveys. Together, the data from these 

surveys show a snapshot of the status and well-being of young adults, defined wherever possible as ages 18–24.

STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The Forum continues to strive to demonstrate greater consistency and standardization in the presentation of information in 

its reports. Many estimates in this report are based on a sample of the population and are therefore subject to sampling error. 

Standard tests of statistical significance have been used to determine whether differences between populations exist at generally 

accepted levels of confidence or are likely to have occurred by chance. Differences between estimates are tested for statistical 

significance at either the 0.05 or 0.10 cutoff level, according to agency standards; all differences discussed in the report are 

statistically significant unless noted otherwise.

REPORT COVERAGE AND METHODS

This report focuses on young adults, generally defined as persons ages 18–24. Characterizing this population is more involved 

than might be expected. The data in this report come from a variety of sources—featuring both sample and universe surveys—

often with different underlying populations, as appropriate for the topic. In universe surveys, information is collected from 

every member of the population of interest. Sample surveys collect data from a sample of the relevant population, which is then 

used to represent the population as a whole. Many of the surveys used in this report are derived from samples of households 

and form the basis of much of what can be described statistically about young adults at large. Other indicators in this report 

provide coverage for households as well as for the other segments of the population living in the United States. Together, these 

indicators create a relevant and timely portrait of the well-being of America’s young adults. 
viii America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014

INDICATOR CRITERIA

The data in this Special Issue provide context for understanding this unique developmental period in life.

The selected indicators are chosen because they are:

 Cross-cutting; looking across important areas of young adults lives.

 Relevant; looking at topics that are timely and relevant for this age group, young adults ages 18–24.

 Available in a Federal data collection (most are regularly measured).

 Easy to understand.

 Representative of large segments of the population or key sub-populations. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

The Forum’s Web site (http://childstats.gov) continues to provide additional information, including:

 America’s Children 2014 At-A-Glance and report tables for all indicators.3

 America’s Children reports from 1997 to the present and other Forum reports.

 Links to Forum agencies, their online data tools, and various international data sources.

HIGHLIGHTS

Demographics

 As of 2012, there were 31.2 million young adults ages 18–24 living in the United States.

 About 522,000 young adults were serving on active duty in the armed forces in 2012. 

 Just over 180,000 young adults were imprisoned in State correctional institutions in 2011.

Education

 In 2013, 84 percent of young adult women and 81 percent of young adult men had completed at least a high school 

education. These percentages were up from 79 and 75 percent, respectively, in 1980.

 The overall college enrollment rate for 18- to 24-year-olds increased from 26 percent in 1980 to 41 percent in 2012. 

 In 2011–12, about 68 percent of young adult undergraduates in their fourth year of college or above had received federal 

loans, non-federal loans, or Parent Loans for Undergraduates (PLUS, received by parents), compared with 50 percent in 

1989–90.

 The mean cumulative debt per fourth-year student in 2011–12 was $25,400, up from $14,700 in 1989–90.

 A higher percentage of young adults ages 20–24 was neither enrolled in school nor working in 2013 (19 percent) than in 

1990 (17 percent). This percentage also increased for young adults at various levels of educational attainment.
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov ix

Economic Circumstances

 The labor force participation rate for young adults was 65 percent in 2012, compared with the peak rate of 75 percent in 

1986.

 Median annual earnings (in constant 2012 dollars) for young adults ages 20–24 not enrolled in school were lower in 2012

than they were in 2000 for all levels of education.

 Of the 2 million households headed by a young adult on his or her own in 2011, 42 percent experienced severe cost 

burdens (housing costs that exceeded 50 percent of income).

 In 2012, 58 percent of young adults had current private health insurance and 15 percent had Medicaid, the Children’s 

Health Insurance Program or another state program. Twenty-five percent were uninsured.

Family Formation

 Fifty-eight percent of young adult men and 51 percent of young adult women lived with their parents in 2013.

 Birth rates for women ages 18–19 and 20–24 have reached historic lows in the United States. The birth rate for women 

ages 18–19 was 51.4 per 1,000 in 2012, down from 94.0 per 1,000 in 1991. The rate for women ages 20–24 fell from 

116.5 per 1,000 in 1990 to 83.1 per 1,000 in 2012.

Civic, Social, and Personal Behavior

 Like the rest of the population, young adults are less likely to vote in congressional election years than presidential election 

years. In 2012, 38 percent of young adults voted, compared with 20 percent in 2010.

 In 2012, 19 percent of 20- to 24-year-olds volunteered to do unpaid work through or for an organization. 

 On average, young adult males and females spent 3 hours per day doing work and work-related activities in 2012. 

 In 2011–2012, 30 percent of young adults ages 18–24 met the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans for both 

aerobic and muscle-strengthening leisure-time activities.

 In 2012, 20 percent of males and 15 percent of females currently smoked cigarettes. Since the late 1990s, there has been 

a declining trend for both males and females. 

 In 2006–2010, the percentage of young adult women at risk of unintended pregnancy who did not use contraception was 

17 percent among women ages 18–19 and 13 percent among women ages 20–24. 

Health and Safety

 In 2012, 71 percent of young adults ages 18–24 had a usual source of health care.

 Between 1988–1994 and 1999–2002, there was an increase in obesity among young adults, but between 1999–2002 

and 2007–2010, there was no significant change in obesity.

 From 2002 to 2012, the prevalence of substance use disorder (SUD) among males ages 18–24 decreased from 28 to 

23 percent. SUD among young-adult females was 16 percent in 2002 and 2012.

 From 2005 to 2011, the prevalence of major depressive episode (MDE) was about twice as high among females ages 18–24 

(10 to 12 percent) as among young adult men (5 to 6 percent).

 In 2006–2010, among young adults ages 18–24, 4 percent of males and 7 percent of females received treatment for 

sexually transmitted diseases, including gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, or syphilis.

 In 2010, the young adult injury death rate for ages 18–24 was 61.2 per 100,000. More than half of injury deaths were 

related to motor vehicle traffic (19.0 per 100,000) or firearms (17.1 per 100,000).

 In 2012, the overall nonfatal violent victimization rate among young adults ages 18–24 was 41.0 per 1,000, a decline of 

71 percent from 1993.
x America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014

DATA SOURCES

Demographics

Demographic Circumstances

For more information about the American Community Survey (ACS), see http://www.census.gov/acs/www/index.html.

Group Quarters

For more information about the American Community Survey (ACS), see http://www.census.gov/acs/www/index.html.

Military Participation

For more information about the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) Active Duty Family File, see https://www.dmdc.

osd.mil/appj/dwp/index.jsp.

Imprisonment Rates

For more information about the National Corrections Reporting Program (NCRP), see http://www.bjs.gov/index.

cfm?ty=dcdetail&iid=268. 

For more information about the National Prisoner Statistics program (NPS), see http://www.bjs.gov/index.

cfm?ty=dcdetail&iid=269.

Education

Educational Attainment

For more information about the Current Population Survey (CPS), see https://www.census.gov/cps/. 

Enrollment Rates

For more information about the Current Population Survey (CPS), see https://www.census.gov/cps/. 

College Costs and Indebtedness

For more information about the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS), see http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/npsas/. 

Neither Enrolled in School Nor Working

For more information about the Current Population Survey (CPS), see https://www.census.gov/cps/. 

Economic Circumstances

Labor Force

For more information about the Current Population Survey (CPS), see https://www.census.gov/cps/. 

Median Earnings

For more information about the Current Population Survey (CPS), see https://www.census.gov/cps/. 

Housing Problems

For more information about the American Housing Survey (AHS), see http://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/ahs.html. 

Health Insurance

For more information about the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), see http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm. 

Family Formation

Living Arrangements

For more information about the Current Population Survey (CPS), see https://www.census.gov/cps/. 

Births to Young Adult Women

For more information about the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS), see http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/births.htm. 
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov xi

Civic, Social, and Personal Behavior

Voting

For more information about the Current Population Survey (CPS), see https://www.census.gov/cps/.

Time Use

For more information about the American Time Use Survey (ATUS), see http://www.bls.gov/tus. 

Leisure-Time Physical Activity

For more information about the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), see http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm. 

Cigarette Smoking

For more information about the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), see http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm. 

Contraception 

For more information about the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), see http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nsfg.htm. 

Health and Safety

Usual Source of Health Care

For more information about the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), see http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm. 

Obesity

For more information about the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), see http://www.cdc.gov/

nchs/nhanes.htm. 

Substance Use Disorder

For more information about the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), see http://www.samhsa.gov/data/

NSDUH.aspx.

Major Depressive Episode

For more information about the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), see http://www.samhsa.gov/data/

NSDUH.aspx.

Sexually Transmitted Disease Treatment

For more information about the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), see http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nsfg.htm. 

Injury Mortality

For more information on death rates, see http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/deaths.htm. Additional information about death rates is 

available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wonder Web site (http://wonder.cdc.gov/). 

Nonfatal Victimization Rates

For more information about the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), see http://www.bjs.gov/index.

cfm?ty=dcdetail&iid=245. 
xii America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014

DEMOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

Young adults are at a key juncture for shaping their future prospects. Persons in this age group are often characterized by 

their transitions out of (and into) households and other living arrangements. Knowledge of the demographic characteristics 

of America’s young adults is an important part of understanding the needs of this population. These characteristics provide 

an important context for the remaining indicators in this report and offer perspective on the potential outlook for these 

emerging adults.

Many indicators in this publication are derived from data sources that exclude certain segments of the young adult population. 

The demographics section includes indicators that provide a portrait of the demographic characteristics of young adults. It 

features a description of all young adults living in the United States (including those in household and non-household living 

arrangements), a discussion of young adults living outside of households or in “group quarters,” and detailed descriptions of 

military and imprisoned young adult populations.
Demographics
2 America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014

Demographics

DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS

There are about 31.2 million persons ages 18–24 living in the United States, which is about 13 percent of the entire adult 

population. The young adult population is quite diverse, in some cases differing greatly from the population of persons ages 

25 and older.

FIGURE POP1

Select demographic characteristics by age group, 2008–2012 

0

20

40

100

60

80

Percent

18–24 25 and older

White

alone,

nonHispanic

Black

alone

HispanicAmerican

Indian/

Alaska

Native

Asian Native

Hawaiian/

Pacific

Islander

Two

or

more

races

All

other

races

Enrolled

in

school

High

school

graduate

College

graduate

Employed UnemployedNot in

labor

force

Armed

forces

Moved in

last year

ForeignbornSpeaks

language

other than

English

NOTE: The revised 1997 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards for data on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into racial groups. Data on race and 

Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race. 

SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 5-year weighted estimates.

 The percentage of young adults ages 18–24 that are 

White, non-Hispanic is lower compared with those age 

25 and older, 56 and 68 percent, respectively. Conversely, 

12 percent of adults age 25 and older are Black and 14 

percent are Hispanic, while 15 percent of young adults 

are Black and 21 percent are Hispanic.

 While a lower percentage of young adults than adults age 

25 and older are foreign born, a slightly higher percentage 

of young adults speak a language other than English at 

home.

 Far more young adults than adults age 25 and older are 

enrolled in school (both in number and percentage). 

While many young adults are still enrolled in school, 

they have lower high school and college completion rates 

compared with those age 25 and older.

 Young adults’ employment rates are lower than those of 

the population age 25 and older.

 Young adults have higher rates of moving in the past year 

than adults age 25 and older.

Bullets contain references to data that can be found in 

Detailed Tables beginning on page 48.

America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 3

Demographics

GROUP QUARTERS

Of the 31.2 million persons ages 18–24 in 

the United States, 27.9 million, or 89 percent 

reside in households. The remaining 3.3 

million, just over 11 percent of the total, of 

young adults reside in other non-household 

arrangements, referred to as “group quarters.” 

Examples of non-household living situations 

common for this age group include college 

dormitories, armed forces military quarters, 

correctional institutions, and residential medical 

facilities. Within group quarters, a distinction 

can be made between “institutional group 

quarters” (e.g., medical facilities, jails, prisons) 

and “noninstitutional group quarters” (e.g., 

dormitories, military barracks).

 The majority of young adults in group 

quarters (74 percent) live in college 

housing. Another 8 percent are in military 

quarters. 

 About 13.1 percent are in institutional 

group quarters, with the highest percentage 

of those (12.6 percent) in correctional 

facilities.

 Distributions by gender show some 

differences. For example, 12 percent of 

young adult males are in the group quarters 

population, compared with 10 percent of 

females.

 For males, 21 percent of group quarters 

residents are in a correctional facility, 

compared with 2 percent of females. 

Conversely, 91 percent of females in group 

quarters are in college housing, compared 

with 61 percent of males.

Bullets contain references to data that can be 

found in Detailed Tables beginning on page 49.

FIGURE POP2

Young adults ages 18–24 by residence type and gender, 2008–

2012

Male

Group

quarters

population:

Housing unit

population

Other

Non-institutionalized

College/university

student housing

Military quarters

Correctional

Medical

Institutionalized

Female

Group

quarters

population:

Housing unit

population

Other

Non-institutionalized

College/university

student housing

Military quarters

Correctional

Medical

Institutionalized

Percent

0

20

40

60

80

100

Percent

0

20

40

60

80

100

SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 5-year weighted estimates.
4

Demographics

MILITARY PARTICIPATION

A small but significant group of American young 

adults ages 18–24 enter the labor force by serving 

in the military. Over 764,000 American young 

adults in this age group serve in either the Active 

Duty or the Reserve component of the U.S. 

Armed Forces. This indicator focuses mainly on 

those who are in Active Duty. 

 There are over 522,000 young adults 

ages 18–24 serving in the Active Duty 

component (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, 

Air Force, and Department of Homeland 

Security’s [DHS’s] Coast Guard). In 

addition to the members of the Active 

Duty component, there are approximately 

244,000 Reserve component members 

ages 18–24 (Army National Guard, Army 

Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps 

Reserve, Air National Guard, Air Force 

Reserve, and DHS’s Coast Guard 

Reserve).4

 Most (96 percent) Active Duty Service 

members in this age group are enlisted 

personnel. Only 4 percent are officers. 

 Service members in this age group account 

for 37 percent of the total Active Duty 

personnel.

 Of the Active Duty Service members in this 

age group, 17 percent are assigned to duty 

stations outside the Continental United 

States. 

 Of the Active Duty Service members in 

this age group, 85 percent are male and 

15 percent are female.

 Almost all Active Duty Service members 

(98 percent) have at least completed high 

school. Educational attainment of Service 

members in this age group reflects the 

level of education required to enlist in the 

Military Service rather than their final 

educational attainment. Service members 

have a variety of educational and training 

opportunities to obtain higher levels of 

education during their Military Service. 

Many young Service members also take 

advantage of their GI Bill benefit to gain 

college and post-graduate education while 

serving and after leaving the Service. 

America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014

FIGURE POP3.A

Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who are Active Duty 

Service members by geographic locationa and gender, 2012 

0

20

40

60

80

100

Percent

Geographic location

Inside the

Continental

United States

Outside the

Continental

United Statesb

Male

Female

Gender

a

 Geographic location is based on the location of the unit to which an individual Service member is 

assigned.

b Includes Alaska and Hawaii.

NOTE: The total number of Active Duty Service members ages 18–24 is 521,940.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Manpower Data Center, Active Duty Family File. 

FIGURE POP3.B

Educational attainment of Active Duty Service members ages 18–24,

2012

Less than

high school

Unknown

High school

completion

Some 

college

Bachelor’s or

higher degree

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Manpower Data Center, Active Duty Family File.

Bullets contain references to data that can be found in Detailed Tables 

beginning on page 50.
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 5

Demographics

IMPRISONMENT RATES

Although research suggests that transitioning to adulthood can be challenging for young people in general, experiencing 

imprisonment can have profound effects on a young person’s future.5

 Imprisonment can reduce a young person’s ability to 

develop into a fully contributing member of society and can have a long-term impact on adult behavior, including increased 

risk of diminished income, and negative mental health status.6–11 In addition, young adults experience high rates of recidivism, 

with three-quarters returning to prison within three years of release.12 

FIGURE POP4.A

Rate per 100,000 young adult males ages 18–24 imprisoned in 

adult prison facilities by race and Hispanic origin, 2000–2011

 In 2011, the imprisonment rate for young 

adult Black, non-Hispanic males ages 

18–24 was 3,148 per 100,000, more than 

twice the rate for Hispanic males (1,269 

per 100,000) and more than 6 times greater 

than the rate for White, non-Hispanic 

males, which stood at 463 per 100,000.

 In 2011, young adult males were 

imprisoned at a rate nearly 16 times higher 

than the rate for young adult females in the 

same age range. The ratio of male-to-female 

imprisonment rates among young adults 

was 27 to 1 for Black, non-Hispanic young 

adults; 18 to 1 for Hispanic young adults; 

and nearly 9 to 1 for White, non-Hispanic 

young adults.

 The imprisonment rate for young adult 

males decreased by 29 percent from 2000 

to 2011, from 1,514 to 1,075 per 100,000. 

The decrease in the overall imprisonment 

rate was led by the decline for Black, nonHispanic males (of 39 percent), from 5,198 

to 3,148 per 100,000. The imprisonment 

rate declined from 1,833 to 1,269 per 

100,000 for Hispanic males and from 

615 to 463 per 100,000 for White, nonHispanic males.

 The imprisonment rate among young adult 

females ages 18–24 declined by 3 percent 

over the 12-year period from 2000 to 2011. 

The imprisonment rate for Black, nonHispanic females in this age range decreased 

by more than a third (35 percent), while 

the rate for White, non-Hispanic females 

increased by nearly a quarter (24 percent).

Bullets contain references to data that can be 

found in Detailed Tables beginning on page 52.

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

Rate per 100,000 males ages 18–24

Black, non-Hispanic

Hispanic Other race, non-Hispanic

White, non-Hispanic

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

FIGURE POP4.B

Rate per 100,000 young adult females ages 18–24 imprisoned in 

adult prison facilities by race and Hispanic origin, 2000–2011

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

Rate per 100,000 females ages 18–24

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Black, non-Hispanic Hispanic Other race, non-Hispanic

White, non-Hispanic

NOTE: For data before 2003, the 1977 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards for data 

on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into racial groups. The revised 1997 OMB standards 

were used for data from 2003 and later years. Data from 2003 onward are not directly comparable with 

data from earlier years. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic 

origin may be of any race.

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Corrections Reporting Program, National 

Prisoner Statistics Program, Survey of Inmates in State Correctional Facilities.

Education
8 America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014

Education

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Educational attainment is associated with many other measures, including income, employment, and political participation, 

and is an indicator of how young adults are shaping their future prospects. Educational attainment refers to the highest level 

of education completed regardless of current enrollment in school. Over time, there have been increases in the percentages of 

young adults ages 18–24 that have attained higher levels of education.

FIGURE ED1

Percentage distribution of young adults ages 18–24 by gender and highest level of 

educational attainment, selected years 1980, 1995, and 2013

0

10

20

30

40

100

50

Percent

Male Female

Less than

high school

High school

completiona

Some 

collegeb

Associate’s

degree

Bachelor’s or

higher degree

1980 1995 2013 1980 1995 2013

* Not available.

a

 Includes equivalency certification in 1995 and 2013.

b

 In 1980, “Some college” refers to completion of one or more years of college. In 1995 and 2013, the term refers to completion 

of any college at all.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March and Annual Social and 

Economic Supplement.

 In 2013, some 17 percent of young adults ages 18–24 

had not completed high school, while 83 percent had at 

least a high school diploma or equivalency certification. 

Although many young adults had not yet completed 

their educational pursuits, the highest level of educational 

attainment for 28 percent of young adults was high 

school completion, while 39 percent had attended 

some college, 6 percent had an associate’s degree, and 

10 percent had a bachelor’s or higher degree.

 Among young adults in 2013, higher percentages of 

females than males reported attending some college, 

receiving an associate’s degree, or receiving a bachelor’s or 

higher degree. A higher percentage of males than females 

had completed only high school or less education.

 The percentages of females and males with at least a high 

school education were higher in 2013 than in 1980.

 Despite improvements in educational attainment, literacy 

levels among young adults in the United States remain 

lower than in many other countries. According to the 

2012 Survey of Adult Skills, U.S. young adults ages 

16–19 who had completed high school scored 15 points 

lower than the Organisation for Economic Co-operation 

and Development (OECD) average in literacy proficiency 

(270 vs. 285 points). Twelve of 18 participating OECD 

countries had higher scores for young high school 

completers, and none had measurably lower scores.13

Bullets contain references to data that can be found in 

Detailed Tables beginning on page 53.
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 9

Education

ENROLLMENT RATES

College participation can be measured by the overall percentage of the typical college-age population (those ages 18–24) 

enrolled in college. The overall college enrollment rate for young adults ages 18–24 increased from 26 percent in 1980 to 

41 percent in 2012—an increase of 15 percentage points.

 In 2012, the overall college enrollment rate 

for White, non-Hispanic young adults ages 

18–24 (42 percent) was higher than the 

rates for their Hispanic (37 percent) and 

Black, non-Hispanic (36 percent) peers—

a pattern that has held since 1980. Despite 

these differences, overall college enrollment 

increased over time for young adults in each 

of these three groups. 

 Between 1980 and 2012, college 

enrollment increased for both males and 

females, although the percentage increase 

over this period was higher for females 

than for males. 

 In 2012, a higher percentage of White, 

non-Hispanic females were enrolled in 

college than their male counterparts (46 

vs. 38 percent). Hispanic females were 

also enrolled in college at a higher rate 

(42 percent) than were Hispanic males 

(34 percent). There was no statistically 

significant difference between Black, 

non-Hispanic females and males in the 

percentages who were enrolled in college.

 Among males in 2012, the percentage of 

White, non-Hispanic young adults enrolled 

in college was higher than the percentages 

for their Black, non-Hispanic and Hispanic 

counterparts. The same pattern was 

observed among females.

Bullets contain references to data that can be 

found in Detailed Tables beginning on page 54.

FIGURE ED2

Enrollment rates of young adults ages 18–24 in degree-granting 

institutions by gender and race and Hispanic origin, 1980–2012

2012

Female

0

20

10

30

40

50

100

Percent

White, non-Hispanic

Hispanic

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

2012

Male

0

20

10

30

40

50

100

Percent

White, non-Hispanic

Black, non-Hispanic

Hispanic

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

Black, non-Hispanic

NOTE: Data are based on sample surveys of the civilian non-institutionalized population. After 2002, 

data for individual race categories exclude persons identifying as two or more races. Race categories 

exclude persons of Hispanic origin. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey.
10 America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014

Education

COLLEGE COSTS AND INDEBTEDNESS

The net price of attending college and the debts students and parents accumulate are key to understanding the overall cost 

of a college education. College costs and indebtedness can affect students’ ability to complete their education as well as the 

pathways students take following college completion or exit.14,15 This indicator presents data on the net price of attending 

college (defined as the total cost of attendance minus grant aid16) and information on various types of loans, such as federal 

loans, non-federal loans, and Parent Loans for Undergraduates (PLUS).

 In 2011–12, the average net price of 

attending college for full-time, full-year 

undergraduates ages 18–24 was $19,700 

for all students, $20,000 for dependent 

students, and $17,600 for independent 

students.

 The average net price of attending college, 

after adjusting for inflation, increased by 

24 percent from 1999–2000 to 2011–12 

for all undergraduates (from $15,900 to 

$19,700).

 The average net price of attending college 

was 24 percent higher for dependent 

undergraduates in 2011–12 ($20,000) than 

in 1999–2000 ($16,100) and 22 percent 

higher for independent undergraduates 

($17,600 vs. $14,500).

 The average amount of grant aid, which 

does not have to be repaid, increased by 

43 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars 

between 1999–2000 and 2011–12, from 

$7,100 to $10,200.

FIGURE ED3.A

Average net price of attending college for full-time, full-year 

undergraduates ages 18–24 by dependency status, academic 

years 1999–2000, 2003–04, 2007–08, and 2011–12

1999–2000

0

5

10

15

20

$25

Constant 2011–12 dollars (in thousands)

2003–04 2007–08 2011–12

Total Dependent

undergraduates

Independent

undergraduates

NOTE: The net price is calculated as the total cost of attendance minus grant aid. Data adjusted to 

2011–12 dollars using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). Dependent and 

independent are designations of whether postsecondary students are financially dependent on their 

parents or financially independent of their parents. Undergraduates are assumed to be dependent 

unless they meet one of the following criteria: are age 24 or older, are married or have legal dependents 

other than a spouse, are veterans, are orphans or wards of the court, or provide documentation 

that they are self-supporting. Between 1999–2000 and 2011–12, between 10 and 11 percent of 

undergraduates were independent and the remainder were dependent.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National 

Postsecondary Student Aid Study.
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 11

Education

COLLEGE COSTS AND INDEBTEDNESS (CONT.)

FIGURE ED3.B

Percentage of undergraduate students ages 18–24 in their fourth 

year or above who had ever received federal loans or Parent 

Loans for Undergraduates (PLUS), and the average cumulative 

amount borrowed in constant 2011–12 dollars, 1989–90 and 

2011–12

Any

loans

Stafford

loans

Perkins

loans

Direct

PLUS

Any

loans

Federal

loans

Direct

PLUS

Percentage of persons with loans

1989–90

0

20

40

60

80

100

Percent

Average cumulative loan amount

Constant 2011–12 dollars (in thousands)

2011–12

Any

loans

Stafford

loans

Perkins

loans

Direct

PLUS

Any

loans

Federal

loans

Direct

PLUS

1989–90

0

5

10

15

20

25

$30

2011–12

NOTE: Cumulative Stafford loan amounts include federal 

subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans, as well as any 

Supplemental Loans for Students (SLS) received in prior years. 

Direct PLUS loans are taken out by parents of dependent students 

and are used towards the students’ undergraduate education. 

Average loan amounts were calculated only for those who took 

out a loan or loans, and refer to the specified category only. For 

1989–90 data, total borrowed includes loans from family and 

friends.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for 

Education Statistics, National Postsecondary Student Aid Study.

 In 2011–12, about 68 percent of young 

adult undergraduates in their fourth year 

of college or above had received federal 

loans, non-federal loans, or Parent Loans 

for Undergraduates (PLUS, received by 

parents), compared with 50 percent in 

1989–90.

 The average total cumulative amount 

borrowed by undergraduates in their 

fourth year of college or above was higher 

in 2011–12 ($25,400) than in 1989–90 

($14,700), after adjusting for inflation.

 The percentage of undergraduates ages 

18–24 in their fourth year of college or 

above whose parents had received direct 

PLUS loans was higher in 2011–12 (20 

percent) than in 1989–90 (4 percent).

 The average cumulative direct PLUS 

loan amount borrowed by the parents 

of undergraduates in their fourth year of 

college or above was higher in 2011–12 

($27,300) than in 1989–90 ($8,700), after 

adjusting for inflation.

Bullets contain references to data that can be 

found in Detailed Tables beginning on page 55.
12 America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014

Education

NEITHER ENROLLED IN SCHOOL NOR WORKING

Young adults neither enrolled in school nor working are at particular risk of limited future economic and social prospects 

because they are detached from core activities for this age group. Such detachment, particularly if it lasts for several years, 

hinders a young adult’s opportunity to build a work history that contributes to future higher wages and employability.17 The 

ultimate consequences of disengagement from productive activity can be damaging for young adults themselves and for society 

at large.

 A higher percentage of young adults ages 

20–24 was neither enrolled in school nor 

working in 2013 (19 percent) than in 1990 

(17 percent). In addition, the percentage of 

young adults ages 20–24 neither enrolled 

in school nor working increased from 1990 

to 2013 for those whose highest level of 

education was high school completion 

(from 21 to 31 percent), for those who 

had completed some college (from 6 to 

9 percent), and for those with at least a 

bachelor’s degree (from 5 to 9 percent).

 In 2013, the percentage of 20- to 

24-year-olds who were neither enrolled in 

school nor working varied by education 

level. This percentage was highest among 

those who had not completed high school 

(45 percent), followed by those who had 

completed high school only (31 percent); it 

was also higher for those with an associate’s 

degree (13 percent) than for those who had 

completed some college and those with at 

least a bachelor’s degree (both 9 percent).

FIGURE ED4.A

Percentage of young adults ages 20–24 who were neither enrolled 

in school nor working by educational attainment, 1990–2013

2010 2013

0

20

10

30

40

50

100

Percent

1990 1995 2000 2005

Less than high school

High school completion

Total

Some college

Bachelor’s or higher degree Associate’s degree

NOTE: The percentage for associate’s degree in 1990 is not available. High school completion includes 

equivalency credentials, such as the General Educational Development (GED) credential.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March 

Supplement and Annual Social and Economic Supplement.
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 13

Education

NEITHER ENROLLED IN SCHOOL NOR WORKING (CONT.)

 In 2013, the percentage of young adults 

neither enrolled in school nor working was 

higher for young adults ages 20–24 (19 

percent) than for young adults ages 18–19 

(13 percent).

 Among young adults ages 18–19, higher 

percentages of Black, non-Hispanic (17 

percent) and Hispanic young adults (16 

percent) than of White, non-Hispanic (11 

percent) and Asian/Pacific Islander, nonHispanic young adults (8 percent) were 

neither enrolled in school nor working.

 Among young adults ages 20–24, the 

percentage of those neither enrolled in 

school nor working was higher for Black, 

non-Hispanic young adults (27 percent) 

than for Hispanic (23 percent) and White, 

non-Hispanic young adults (15 percent), 

and it was higher for Hispanic young 

adults than for White, non-Hispanic young 

adults. The percentage was lowest for Asian/

Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic young adults 

(12 percent).

 For both young adults ages 18–19 

and 20–24, there were no measurable 

differences between males and females in 

the percentages of young adults neither 

enrolled in school nor working for males 

and females.

Bullets contain references to data that can be 

found in Detailed Tables beginning on page 59.

FIGURE ED4.B

Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who were neither 

enrolled in school nor working by gender, race and Hispanic 

origin, and age group, 2013

Totala Male Female White,

nonHispanic

Black,

nonHispanic

Hispanic Asian/

Pacific 

Islander, nonHispanic

0

10

20

30

40

50

100

Percent

18–19 20–24

a

 Includes other racial and Hispanic origin groups not shown separately.

NOTE: In 2013, about 10.6 percent of the young adults who were neither enrolled in school nor 

working were married with their own children and 16.7 percent were unmarried with their own 

children. The revised 1997 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards for data on race and 

ethnicity were used to classify persons into racial groups. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected 

separately. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual 

Social and Economic Supplement,

Economic Circumstances
16 America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014

Economic Circumstances

LABOR FORCE

The labor force participation rate for young 

adults is the percentage of the population ages 

18–24 either working or actively looking for 

work whether or not they are enrolled in school. 

Labor force participation is an important labor 

market measure because finding and keeping 

a job is not only critical for admission to the 

adult world, but is an important skill for which 

there is little in the way of formal, structured 

preparation.18 The unemployment rate, which is 

the total number of unemployed as a percentage 

of the labor force, tends to be higher for young 

adults than for older age groups.

 The labor force participation rate for young 

adults ages 18–24 was 64.7 percent in 

2013, unchanged from 2012. From a longer 

term viewpoint, the 2013 participation rate 

was 10.6 percentage points below the peak 

rate in 1986 (75.3 percent).

 The labor force participation rate among 

young adults was highest for Whites, at 

67.2 percent in 2013. By contrast, the rate 

was 58.9 percent for Blacks, 49.9 percent 

for Asians, and 64.7 percent for Hispanics.

 Since 2000, when data for all race 

groups became available, the labor force 

participation rate for this age group has 

declined by almost 8.7 percentage points 

overall, and the declines experienced by 

persons of different races and Hispanic 

origin ranged between 5.9 and 8.7 

percentage points.

 For all major race and Hispanic origin 

groups, unemployment rates have trended 

down in recent years, following sharp 

increases during the most recent economic 

recession. The rate for White young adults 

was 12.4 percent in 2013, compared with 

25.1 percent for Black, 11.7 percent for 

Asian, and 15.2 percent for Hispanic young 

adults.

Bullets contain references to data that can be 

found in Detailed Tables beginning on page 61.

FIGURE ECON1.A

Labor force participation rates for young adults ages 18–24 by 

race and Hispanic origin, annual averages 1980–2013 

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2013

0

20

40

60

80

100

Asian

Total

Hispanic

White

Black

Percent

FIGURE ECON1.B

Unemployment rates for young adults ages 18–24 by race and 

Hispanic origin, annual averages 1980–2013 

0

10

20

30

40

100

50

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2013

Asian

White

Total Hispanic

Black

Percent

NOTE: Shaded regions represent recessions as designated by the National Bureau of Economic 

Research (NBER). These data refer to the civilian non-institutionalized population. Beginning in 

2003, estimates for White, Black or African American, and Asian race groups include people who 

selected that race group only. Prior to 2003, people who reported more than one race were included 

in the group they identified as the main race. Asian estimates for 2000–2002 are for Asians and Pacific 

Islanders; beginning in 2003, Asian is a separate category. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as 

Hispanic may be of any race.

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey.
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 17

Economic Circumstances

MEDIAN EARNINGS

Median earnings are an important measure of young adults’ economic well-being. This indicator examines the median annual 

earnings of young adults ages 20–24 who were working or looking for work and were not enrolled in school, by educational 

attainment, gender, and race and Hispanic origin. In addition, it presents information on changes in median earnings for these 

young adults between 1980 and 2012.

 Although median annual earnings for 

young adults ages 20–24 remained relatively 

stable between 1980 and 2000 (in inflationadjusted dollars), earnings have declined 

since 2000 for young adults at all levels of 

educational attainment. Median earnings 

were generally higher between 1980 and 

2012 for young adults with higher levels of 

educational attainment and for males than 

for females. 

 In 2012, median annual earnings for young 

adults were $17,460 overall and ranged 

from $13,910 for young adults with less 

than a high school education to $24,990 

for those with a bachelor’s or higher degree. 

Also in this year, median earnings were 

$18,700 for males and $15,920 for females.

Median Earnings continued on next page.

FIGURE ECON2.A

Median annual earnings (in constant 2012 dollars) for young 

adults ages 20–24 not enrolled in school by educational attainment, 

1980–2012

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2012

0

Median annual earnings (in thousands of dollars)

Bachelor’s or higher degree

Less than high school completion

High school completion

Associate’s degree

5

10

15

20

25

30

$35

NOTE: Data on associate’s degrees are not available prior to 1995. Earnings are shown in constant 

2012 dollars, based on the Consumer Price Index, prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. 

Department of Labor.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey.
18 America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014

Economic Circumstances

MEDIAN EARNINGS (CONT.)

 In 2012, median earnings were higher 

for males than for females among those 

with less than a high school education 

and among those whose highest level of 

education was high school completion. 

However, there was no statistically 

significant difference between the earnings 

of males and females among those who had 

an associate’s degree or among those with a 

bachelor’s or higher degree. 

 For White, non-Hispanic young adults 

in 2012, median earnings were higher 

for high school completers than for those 

who had not completed high school; the 

corresponding differences in earnings 

were not statistically significant for Black, 

non-Hispanic and Hispanic young adults. 

In addition, earnings were higher for 

White, non-Hispanics with a bachelor’s or 

higher degree than for their peers with an 

associate’s degree.

 Among those who had completed high 

school in 2012, median earnings were 

higher for White, non-Hispanics than for 

their Black, non-Hispanic and Hispanic 

counterparts; earnings were also higher for 

Hispanics than for Black, non-Hispanics. 

There were no measurable differences in 

earnings among those with a bachelor’s or 

higher degree. 

Bullets contain references to data that can be 

found in Detailed Tables beginning on page 63.

FIGURE ECON2.B

Median annual earnings for young adults ages 20–24 not enrolled 

in school by gender and race and Hispanic origin, 2012

Less than

high school

completion

Bachelor’s

or higher

degree

Gender Race and Hispanic origin

0

5

10

15

30

25

20

$35

Median annual earnings (in thousands of dollars)

High

school

completion

Associate’s

degree

Less than

high school

completion

Bachelor’s

or higher

degree

High

school

completion

Associate’s

degree

Male Female White

non-Hispanic

Black,

non-Hispanic

Hispanic

‡ Reporting standards not met (too few cases for a reliable estimate).

NOTE: The revised 1997 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards for data on race and 

ethnicity were used to classify persons into racial groups. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected 

separately. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey.
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 19

Economic Circumstances

HOUSING PROBLEMS

As young adults seek to develop independence, they often find that housing costs pose a barrier to forming new households, 

obtaining an education, relocating to find employment, or satisfying other needs. The prevalence of severe housing cost 

burdens has increased rapidly during the past 10 years, especially for renters with very low incomes.19 Many young adults cope 

with housing cost burdens by living in physically inadequate units, or by “doubling up” with roommates or moving back with 

parents.20 Physically inadequate housing and crowding resulting from such living arrangements can cause health problems.21,22

FIGURE ECON3

Prevalence of housing problems among all households with young adults ages 18–24 and 

among very low-income households with young adults by living arrangement, 2011

Total Total

0

20

40

100

60

80

Percent

With

parent(s)

With

spouse

With

no other

adults

With

other

adults

All households with young adults Very low-income households with young adults

With

parent(s)

With

spouse

With

no other

adults

With

other

adults

Inadequate

housing

Crowded

housing

Moderate

cost burden

Severe

cost burden

* Estimate is zero percent.

NOTE: Very low-income households are those with incomes not exceeding 50 percent of area median income, adjusted for family 

size. Inadequate housing refers to moderate or severe physical problems with the housing unit. Crowded housing refers to households 

with more than one person per room. Moderate cost burdens are total housing costs that exceed 30 percent of income, and severe cost 

burdens exceed 50 percent of income.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research, American Housing 

Survey.

 Households with young adults ages 18–24 totaled 20 

million in 2011, of which 7 million households had very 

low incomes.

 In 2011, severe housing cost burdens affected 20 percent 

of households with young adults, and the majority (52 

percent) of those that had very low incomes.

 Living arrangements generally have an important 

influence on the prevalence of severe cost burdens for 

households with young adults. During 2011, severe cost 

burdens affected 16 percent of households with young 

adults that included parents or a spouse, 25 percent of 

those with other adults, and 42 percent of those with no 

other adults.

 Because very low incomes are a major cause of severe cost 

burden, living arrangement has relatively less effect on 

very low-income households with young adults. Those 

who are married, however, are somewhat less likely to 

have severe cost burdens.

 Physically inadequate housing and crowded housing are 

less prevalent problems than are either severe or moderate 

cost burdens. Among very low-income households with 

young adults in 2011, 11 percent had inadequate housing 

and 9 percent were crowded.

Bullets contain references to data that can be found in 

Detailed Tables beginning on page 65.
20 America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014

Economic Circumstances

HEALTH INSURANCE

Until 2011, young adults ages 18–24 were more likely than other adult age groups to be uninsured and, when insured, were 

the least likely to have private health insurance.23 For young adults, lack of or disruption of health insurance coverage can create 

barriers to health care and leave young adults vulnerable to high out-of-pocket medical expenses in the event of a serious illness 

or injury.24 In 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law. This law requires insurers to 

allow parents to keep adult children on their plans until age 26.25

FIGURE ECON4

Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 covered by health insurance at time of interview 

by type of health insurance,1993–2012

0

20

40

60

80

100

Percent

Private health insurance

Uninsured

Medicaid or other public health insurance

1993 1995 2000 2005 2010 2012

NOTE: Medicaid or other public health insurance includes Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and 

state-sponsored health plans. A small number of young adults were covered by both Medicaid or other public health insurance 

and private insurance and are only included in the private insurance coverage group. 

SOURCE: Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey.

 In 2012, 25 percent of young adults ages 18–24 were 

currently uninsured, 58 percent of young adults currently 

had private health insurance, and 15 percent currently 

had coverage under Medicaid, the Children’s Health 

Insurance Program (CHIP), or another state program. 

 There was no significant trend between 1993 and 2010 

in the percentage of young adults who were uninsured. 

However, between 2010 and 2012, the percentage 

decreased from 31 to 25 percent.

 The percentage of young adults with private insurance 

increased between 1993 and 1999, and then decreased 

between 1999 and 2010. However, between 2010 

and 2012, the percentage of young adults with private 

insurance increased from 52 to 58 percent.

 The percentage of young adults with Medicaid or other 

public insurance decreased between 1993 and 1999, and 

then increased from 8 to 15 percent between 1999 and 

2012.

 In 2012, a higher percentage of males (28 percent) 

were uninsured compared with females (21 percent). 

In contrast, a higher percentage of females (19 percent) 

had Medicaid or other public insurance compared with 

males (11 percent).

 In 2012, a higher percentage of Hispanic young adults 

(44 percent) were uninsured compared with Black, nonHispanic (28 percent) and White, non-Hispanic 

(17 percent) young adults.

Bullets contain references to data that can be found in 

Detailed Tables beginning on page 67.
Family Formation
22 America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014

Family Formation

LIVING ARRANGEMENTS

Many factors influence the living arrangements of young adults, including economic circumstances, educational status, and 

family formation. Living arrangements also influence future economic and educational opportunities. Changes in living 

arrangements of young adults over time are partly a result of delays in marriage and increases in cohabitation.26 Median age 

at first marriage has increased; since 1991, it has been over age 24 for both men and women. 27–29

 A higher percentage of young adult males 

than young adult females ages 18–24 lived 

with parents in all time periods shown. For 

males, the percentage of young adults living 

with parents ranged from 51 percent in 

2008 to 59 percent in 2012. For females, 

the percentage ranged from 46 percent in 

1995 and 2005 to 51 percent in 2012 and 

2013.

 Trends in young adults living with a spouse 

relate to the increased age at marriage. In 

1989, 1 in 4 young adult females lived 

with a spouse; in 2013, only 1 in 10 lived 

with a spouse. The percentage of young 

adult males who lived with a spouse was 15 

percent in 1989 and 6 percent in 2013. 

 In 2000, 6 to 7 percent of both males and 

females were cohabiting. In 2013, 8 percent 

of males and 12 percent of females in this 

age group were cohabiting. In 2006, twice 

as many young adult females lived with a 

spouse than lived with a cohabiting partner. 

In 2013, more young adult females lived 

with a partner (12 percent) than with a 

spouse (10 percent).

 The percentage of young adults living alone 

has not changed much over time and is 

not statistically significant for males and 

females. Between 1989 and 2013, between 

4 and 6 percent of males and females lived 

alone.

Bullets contain references to data that can be 

found in Detailed Tables beginning on page 69.

FIGURE FAM1

Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 by gender and living 

arrangement,1989–2013

1989 1995 2000 2005 2010 2013

Females

0

20

40

60

80

100

Percent

Living with parent (child of householder)

Living with spouse

Cohabiting Living alone

1989 1995 2000 2005 2010 2013

Males

0

20

40

60

80

100

Percent

Living with parent (child of householder)

Living with spouse Cohabiting Living alone

NOTE: Child of householder category includes children in college who live away from home during 

the school year. Living with spouse and cohabiting categories include those who are also the child of the 

householder. Cohabitation status is not available before 1996. From 1996 to 2006, the cohabiting category 

includes only the reference person and his or her partner; after 2006, cohabiting partners who are not the 

reference person and his or her partner are also included. All other living arrangements (not shown in figure) 

include young adults who live in households with other relatives or non-relatives, such as roommates.

SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement.
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 23

Family Formation

BIRTHS TO YOUNG ADULT WOMEN

Marriage and childbirth are key events for young adults. In 2012, 97 percent of women ages 18–19 and 83 percent of women 

ages 20–24 were unmarried, up from 84 percent and 54 percent in 1980.28,29 Most childbearing among young adult women 

is now to unmarried women.30–32 Compared with infants of married women, infants of unmarried women are at higher risk 

of poor outcomes, including low birthweight and prematurity. Unmarried mothers and their children also experience higher 

rates of poverty.30,32–35 The levels and trends in birth rates among young adult women largely reflect the patterns for young 

unmarried women because most young adults are unmarried.

FIGURE FAM2

Birth rates for women ages 18–19 and 20–24 by marital status, 1980–2012 

0

Live births per 1,000 women in specified age and marital status group

Married, ages 20–24

Total, ages 18–19 Total, ages 20–24

Unmarried, ages 18–19 Unmarried, ages 20–24

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2012

50

100

150

200

250

400

300

350 Married, ages 18–19

SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System.

 Birth rates for young adult women ages 18–19 and 20–24 

have reached historic lows in the United States. The birth 

rate for women ages 18–19 was 51.4 per 1,000 in 2012, 

down from 94.0 per 1,000 in 1991. The rate for women 

ages 20–24 fell from 116.5 per 1,000 in 1990 to 83.1 per 

1,000 in 2012.

 The birth rate for unmarried women ages 18–19 

increased from 1980 to 1994, from 39.0 births per 1,000 

to a high of 69.1 per 1,000. By 2012, the birth rate had 

dropped to 45.8 per 1,000 women ages 18–19.

 The birth rate for unmarried women ages 20–24 

increased between 1980 and 2007 to 79.8 per 1,000 in 

2007; the rate has since declined through 2012, when 

it was 64.7 per 1,000. Birth rates for married women 

ages 18–19 and 20–24 have declined over the past two 

decades. The rate for married women ages 18–19 declined 

from a high of 385.1 per 1,000 in 1990 to 200.6 per 

1,000 in 2012.

 For married women ages 20–24, the birth rate decreased 

from 216.7 per 1,000 in 1990 to 170.4 per 1,000 in 

2011, but rose to 174.3 per 1,000 in 2012.

 In 2012, 86 percent of births to women ages 18–19 

and 65 percent of births to women ages 20–24 were 

nonmarital. In recent years, an increasing percentage 

of nonmarital births to young women have occurred 

for women in cohabiting unions. More than half of all 

nonmarital births from 2006 to 2010 were to women 

in cohabiting relationships.32,36

Bullets contain references to data that can be found in 

Detailed Tables beginning on page 69.

Civic, Social, and Personal Behavior
26 America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014

Civic, Social, and Personal Behavior

VOTING

Voting rates measure the extent to which young 

people ages 18–24 participate in the democratic 

system. Voting behavior shows engagement in 

civic society and can indicate barriers to certain 

groups for full inclusion in the democratic 

system. Young adults historically have voted at 

much lower rates than the general population, 

particularly in years that do not include a 

presidential election.

 Like the rest of the population, young 

adults are less likely to vote in congressional 

election years than presidential ones. In 

2012, a presidential election year, 38 percent 

of 18- to 24-year-olds voted, compared 

with 20 percent in 2010, the most recent 

congressional election year.

 In recent presidential election years, turnout 

among young Black voters and young 

Hispanic voters has varied. The voting rate 

for young Black voters was 44 percent in 

2004, 52 percent in 2008, and 46 percent 

in 2012. The voting rate for young Hispanic 

voters, meanwhile, was 20 percent in 2004, 

and 27 percent in 2008 and in 2012.

 Attending and graduating from college are 

associated with increased voting among 

young adults. In 2012, 18 percent of high 

school dropouts reported voting, compared 

with 62 percent of college graduates. The 

voting rate for young adults enrolled in 

college in 2012 was 53 percent, compared 

with 34 percent for those who were not 

enrolled in school.

 From 1996 to 2012, the top reason given 

for not voting among registered young 

adults has always been “too busy, conflicting 

schedule” (6 percent in 2012), but “out 

of town or away from home” and “not 

interested” (about 4 percent each in 2012) 

were also frequent reasons given for not 

voting.

Bullets contain references to data that can be 

found in Detailed Tables beginning on page 70.

FIGURE BEH1.A

Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 voting in presidential 

election years, 1972–2012

1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012

0

20

40

60

80

100

Percent

White

Black

Hispanic of any race Asian

All persons 18–24 All persons 18 and older

FIGURE BEH1.B

Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 voting in congressional 

election years, 1974–2010

0

20

40

60

80

100

Percent

White

Black

Hispanic of any race

Asian

All persons 18 and older

All persons 18–24

1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010

NOTE: For data before 2003, the 1977 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards for data on 

race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into racial groups. The revised 1997 OMB standards were 

used for data from 2003 and later years. Data from 2003 onward are not directly comparable with data 

from earlier years. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin 

may be of any race.

SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Voting and Registration Supplement.
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 27

Civic, Social, and Personal Behavior

TIME USE

Time use data enable comparisons of how 

much time young men and women spend in 

educational activities, working, leisure and 

sports activities, or doing household activities. 

How people spend their time reflects their 

personal and family situations, interests, 

financial resources, whether they are employed 

or enrolled in school, and other factors.

 In 2012, on an average day, males ages 

18–24 spent 6.6 hours participating in 

leisure activities and sports, about 2 hours 

more than did females (4.6 hours).

 On an average day in 2012, males and 

females spent about the same amount of 

time doing work and work-related activities 

(3.2 hours for males and 3.3 hours for 

females). These averages include data for 

all 7 days of the week and all individuals 

in each group, including those who 

were employed and those who were not 

employed.

 On an average day in 2012, young adult 

males and females spent similar amounts of 

time participating in educational activities 

(1.2 hours for males and 1.3 hours for 

females).

 Watching TV was the leisure activity that 

young adult males and females spent the 

most time doing. On an average day in 

2012, males spent more time watching TV 

than did females (2.6 vs. 2.2 hours).

 Volunteer activities are the specific tasks 

done by a volunteer for an organization, 

such as tutoring, fundraising, or serving 

food. In 2012, 19 percent of 20- to 

24-year-olds volunteered, and young adult 

females volunteered at a higher rate than 

did males (22 vs. 16 percent).37

Bullets contain references to data that can be 

found in Detailed Tables beginning on page 72.

FIGURE BEH2.A

Average hours per day young adults ages 18–24 spent in various 

activities by gender, 2012

0

Average hours

Male Female

4

8

12

16

20

24

1.9 0.4

0.7 1.2

1.1

3.2

6.6

8.9

2.4

0.8 1.0

1.3

1.1

3.3

4.6

9.5

Other activities

Caring for and

helping others

Household activities

Educational activities

Eating and drinking

Work and

work-related activities

Leisure activities

and sports

Sleeping

NOTE: All activities include related travel. “Other activities” includes activities such as organizational, 

civic, and religious activities; shopping; and telephone calls. Averages were calculated using data for 

all 7 days of the week and all months of the year. These data refer to the civilian non-institutionalized 

population.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Time Use Survey.

FIGURE BEH2.B

Average hours young adults ages 18–24 spent in leisure activities 

and sports on an average day by gender, 2012

Watching TV

0

Average hours

Male Female

Other leisure

Reading

Relaxing and thinking

Computer use for leisure

Sports, exercise,

and recreation

Playing games

Socializing

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

0.7

0.1

0.5

0.6

0.7

1.2

2.6

0.5

0.2

0.3 0.1

0.9

2.2

0.2

NOTE: “Other leisure” includes travel related to leisure as well as activities such as hobbies, listening 

to music, arts and entertainment, and attending sporting and recreational events. Averages were 

calculated using data for all 7 days of the week. These data refer to the civilian non-institutionalized 

population.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Time Use Survey.
28 America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014

Civic, Social, and Personal Behavior

LEISURE-TIME PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Regular leisure-time physical activity can benefit an individual’s overall health and fitness. To achieve substantial benefits, 

including reduced risk of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, osteoporosis, depression, and 

the risk of premature death, it is recommended that young adults engage in aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities each 

week.38,39 Physical activity can be beneficial for all young adults whether they are in generally good health or currently have 

chronic conditions or disabilities.40

FIGURE BEH3

Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who participated in both leisure-time aerobic 

and muscle-strengthening physical activities meeting the federal 2008 Physical Activity 

Guidelines for Americans by race and Hispanic origin, selected years 2005–2006 to 

2011–2012

2011–2012

0

10

20

30

40

100

50

Percent

White, non-Hispanic

Hispanic

Black, non-Hispanic

Total

2005–2006 2007–2008 2009–2010

2008 Physical Activity 

Guidelines issued

NOTE: The Department of Health and Human Services 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend for substantial 

health benefits, adults should do: (1) at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity 

aerobic physical activity, or an equivalent combination; and (2) muscle-strengthening activities that are moderate or high intensity and 

involve all major muscle groups two or more days a week (http://www.health.gov/paguidelines/guidelines/chapter4.aspx). The revised 

1997 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards for data on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into racial 

groups. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey.

 In 2011–2012, 30 percent of young adults ages 18–24 

met the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans 

for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening leisure-time 

activities.

 Between 2005–2006 and 2011–2012, the percentage of 

all young adults and White, non-Hispanic young adults 

meeting the guidelines increased. Between 2009–2010 

and 2011–2012, there was an increase in the percentage 

of Hispanic young adults meeting the guidelines.

 In 2011–2012, the percentage of young adults meeting 

the guidelines was higher among White, non-Hispanic 

(33 percent) young adults than among Black, nonHispanic (22 percent) and Hispanic (27 percent) young 

adults.

 The percentage of young adult males (40 percent) 

meeting the guidelines in 2011–2012 was double the 

percentage of females (20 percent).

 In 2011–2012, the percentage of young adults meeting 

the guidelines was higher among young adults with 

family incomes 400 percent and above the poverty level 

(40 percent) compared with young adults with family 

incomes between 200 and 399 percent of the poverty 

level (29 percent), those with family incomes between 

100 and 199 percent of the poverty level (27 percent), 

and those with family incomes below the poverty level 

(25 percent).

Bullets contain references to data that can be found in 

Detailed Tables beginning on page 72.
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 29

Civic, Social, and Personal Behavior

CIGARETTE SMOKING

Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States.41 Cigarette smoking by 

youth and young adults has immediate adverse health consequences, including addiction, and accelerates the development of 

chronic diseases across the full life course. Nearly all adults who become daily smokers first started using cigarettes by 26 years 

of age.42 Cessation is challenging even for young users.43–45 

FIGURE BEH4

Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who currently smoke cigarettes by gender, 

selected years 1983–2012

0

Percent

Male

Female

1983 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2012

10

20

30

40

100

50

Total

NOTE: From 1983–1992, current smoking was defined as ever smoking 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and smoking now 

(traditional definition). Starting with 1993 current cigarette smoking was defined as ever smoking 100 cigarettes in their lifetime 

and smoking now every day or some days (revised definition). In 1992 half of the sample received the traditional smoking questions 

and half received the revised questions. For more methodology information, see http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/tobacco.htm.

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey.

 In 2012, 17 percent of young adults ages 18–24 currently 

smoked cigarettes. A higher percentage of males (20 

percent) were current smokers compared with females 

(15 percent).

 Between 1983 and the early 1990s, there was a downward 

trend in the percentage of both male and female young 

adults who were current smokers. Since the late 1990s, 

the downward trend in the percentage of young adults 

who were current smokers continued for both males and 

females.

 In 2012, among young adult males, a higher percentage 

of White, non-Hispanic males (24 percent) were current 

smokers compared with Black, non-Hispanic (13 percent) 

and Hispanic males (15 percent). Similarly, among 

young adult females, a higher percentage of White, 

non-Hispanic females (20 percent) were current smokers 

compared with Black, non-Hispanic and Hispanic 

females (7 percent each).

 In 2012, among young adult males, a higher percentage 

of males with family incomes less than 100 percent of 

the poverty level were current smokers compared with 

males with family incomes 200 percent or more of the 

poverty level. In contrast, among young adult females, 

there was no difference in the percentage of females who 

were current smokers between those with family incomes 

less than 100 percent of the poverty level and those with 

family incomes 200 percent or more of the poverty level.

Bullets contain references to data that can be found in 

Detailed Tables beginning on page 73.
30 America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014

Civic, Social, and Personal Behavior

CONTRACEPTION

The use of contraception can play a role in preventing the spread of sexually transmitted infections and the occurrence of 

unintended pregnancies. Births to young adult women under age 25 are more likely to be unintended than births to women 

age 25 and older. Compared with intended births, unintended births more often result in poorer outcomes for the health and 

economic well-being of mothers and children.33,34,36

FIGURE BEH5

Contraceptive use among young adult women ages 18–24 who are at risk for unintended 

pregnancy, 2002 and 2006–2010

0

20

40

60

80

100

Percent

No

method

Pill

use

Other

hormonal

use

Condom

use

Dual

use

No

method

Pill

use

Other

hormonal

use

Condom

use

Dual

use

2002 2006–2010

Ages 18–19 Ages 20–24

NOTE: Current contraception refers to the method used in the month of the interview. Other hormonal use includes use of 

contraceptive implants, injectables, patches, and rings. Dual use refers to concurrent use of a hormonal method and condoms. 

Women are at risk of unintended pregnancy if they are either currently using contraception or have had intercourse in the last three 

months among those who were not currently pregnant, postpartum, trying to get pregnant, or sterile for non-contraceptive reasons. 

Contraceptive methods shown in the figure are not mutually exclusive.

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Survey of Family Growth.

 In 2006–2010, the percentage of young adult women 

at risk of unintended pregnancy who did not use 

contraception was 17 percent among women ages 18–19 

and 13 percent among women ages 20–24. There was no 

change between 2002 and 2006–2010 in the percentage 

of young women who reported not using contraception 

in either age group.

 Among both young women ages 18–19 and those 

ages 20–24, there was no change between 2002 and 

2006–2010 in the percentage using the pill, other 

hormonal contraceptive methods, condoms, or the dual 

use of condoms and hormonal contraceptive methods.

 In 2006–2010, more young adult women in both age 

groups reported pill or condom use than use of other 

hormonal contraceptive methods or dual methods.

Bullets contain references to data that can be found in 

Detailed Tables beginning on page 74.
Health and Safety
32 America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014

Health and Safety

USUAL SOURCE OF HEALTH CARE

Having a usual source of care—a particular person or place a young adult goes to for sick and preventive care—facilitates 

the appropriate use of health services and is associated with better health.46,47 Young adults with a usual source of care also 

are more likely to receive preventive services.47,48 Although young adults are generally healthy, some may have medical 

conditions or injuries requiring health care, and all have a need for recommended preventive and reproductive health 

services.49–51

FIGURE HEALTH1

Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 with a usual source of health care by insurance 

type, 1997–2012 

0

20

40

60

80

100

Percent

Medicaid or other public

Total Private

1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2012

Uninsured

NOTE: A small number of young adults were covered by both Medicaid or other public health insurance and private insurance 

and are only included in the private insurance coverage group. Hospital emergency rooms are excluded as a usual source of care.

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey. 

 In 2012, 71 percent of young adults ages 18–24 had 

a usual source of health care; this was not significantly 

different from the percentage in 1997.

 Young adults with health insurance coverage, either 

private or public, were more likely to have a usual source 

of health care than young adults who were uninsured. 

In 2012, more than 80 percent of insured young adults 

had a usual source of health care. This was twice the 

percentage of uninsured young adults who had a usual 

source of health care (39 percent).

 Between 1997 and 2012, the percentage of uninsured 

young adults who had a usual source of health care 

decreased from 50 to 39 percent.

 In 2012, a higher percentage of young adults with family 

incomes 200 percent or more of the poverty level (78 

percent) had a usual source of health care compared with 

young adults with family incomes below the poverty level 

(68 percent) and those with family incomes 100–199 

percent of the poverty level (64 percent).

 In 2012, a higher percentage of White, non-Hispanic 

young adults (77 percent) had a usual source of health 

care compared with Black, non-Hispanic (68 percent) 

and Hispanic (59 percent) young adults.

Bullets contain references to data that can be found in 

Detailed Tables beginning on page 75.
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 33

Health and Safety

OBESITY

More than one in five young adults are obese. Obesity in adults is associated with increased risk for a wide variety of poor 

health outcomes, including diabetes, stroke, heart disease, arthritis, and certain cancers.52 Eating habits and physical activity 

patterns that contribute to obesity are often established during adolescence and young adulthood.53 In addition to individual 

factors, such as diet and physical activity, social, economic, and environmental forces may contribute to the high prevalence 

of obesity.54

FIGURE HEALTH2

Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who are obese by race and Hispanic origin, 

selected years 1988–2010

2003–

2006

0

10

20

30

40

100

50

Percent

Black, non-Hispanic

White, non-Hispanic

Total

1988–

1994

2007–

2010

1999–

2002

Mexican-American

NOTE: Obesity is defined as body mass index ≥ 30 kilograms per meter squared (kg/m2). From 1988 to 1994, the 1977 

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards were used to classify persons into one of four racial groups: White, Black, 

American Indian or Alaskan Native, or Asian or Pacific Islander. For 1999–2010, the revised 1997 OMB standards were used. 

Persons could select one or more of five racial groups: White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, 

Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Included in the total are racial groups not shown separately. Beginning in 

1999, racial categories represent persons reporting only one race. Data from 1999 onward are not directly comparable with data 

from earlier years. Persons of Mexican origin may be of any race.

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

 In 2007–2010, 23 percent of young adults ages 18–24 

were obese.

 Between 1988–1994 and 1999–2002, there was an 

increase in obesity among young adults but between 

1999–2002 and 2007–2010, there was no significant 

change in obesity in this age group.

 In 2007–2010, Black, non-Hispanic young adults (31 

percent) were more likely to be obese than MexicanAmerican (24 percent) and White, non-Hispanic (21 

percent) young adults.

 There was no statistical difference in obesity between 

young adult males and females during 1988–1994, 

1999–2002, and 2003–2006. However, in 2007–2010, 

young adult females (27 percent) were more likely to be 

obese than young adult males (19 percent).

Bullets contain references to data that can be found in 

Detailed Tables beginning on page 76.
34 America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014

Health and Safety

SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is defined as meeting criteria for illicit drug or alcohol dependence or abuse in the past year 

specified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV).55 Illicit drugs include marijuana, 

cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, and the nonmedical use of prescription-type psychotherapeutic drugs. SUD is a 

serious public health concern in the United States. In addition to causing injuries or death from accidents or violence, SUD has 

many medical consequences. SUD is also associated with psychosocial and legal problems.

FIGURE HEALTH3

Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who reported they had illicit drug or alcohol 

dependence or abuse in the past year by gender and race and Hispanic origin, 

2002–2012

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

0

10

20

30

40

100

50

Percent

Male Total

Black, non-Hispanic

White, non-Hispanic

Hispanic Total Female

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

Gender Race/ethnicity

NOTE: For data before 2003, the 1977 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards for data on race and ethnicity 

were used to classify persons into racial groups. The revised 1997 OMB standards were used for data from 2003 and later years. 

Data from 2003 onward are not directly comparable with data from earlier years. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected 

separately. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

SOURCE: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

 From 2002 to 2012, the prevalence of past-year SUD 

among young adult males ages 18–24 (which decreased 

from 28 percent in 2002 to 23 percent in 2012) was 

consistently higher than that among their female 

counterparts (16 percent in 2002 and 2012).

 In 2012, among young adults, the prevalence of pastyear SUD for White, non-Hispanics (21 percent) was 

higher than that for Hispanics (17 percent) and Black, 

non-Hispanics (16 percent).

 Among White, non-Hispanic young adults, the 

prevalence of past-year SUD decreased from 25 

percent in 2002 to 21 percent in 2012. 

Bullets contain references to data that can be found in 

Detailed Tables beginning on page 77.
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 35

Health and Safety

MAJOR DEPRESSIVE EPISODE

Depression has a significant impact on young adults’ development and well-being. A Major Depressive Episode (MDE) is 

defined as a period of at least two weeks in the past year when a person self-reported experiencing a depressed mood or loss of 

interest or pleasure in daily activities and had at least four additional symptoms (such as problems with sleeping, eating, energy, 

concentration, and feelings of self-worth).56 MDE with severe impairment caused the highest severity level of impairment in at 

least one major role domain (home, school/work, family relationships, or social life).

FIGURE HEALTH4

Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who reported they had at least one Major 

Depressive Episode (MDE) in the past year by gender, 2005–2012, and at least one 

MDE with severe impairment in the past year by gender, 2008–2012

2011

0

10

20

30

40

100

50

Percent

Male Total Female

2005 2006 2007 2008 2010 2009 2011 2012 2008 2012 a 2009 2010

MDE MDE with severe impairment

Male Total Female

a

 In 2008, a split-sample design assigned adults ages 18 or older randomly to one of two impairment scales, the World Health 

Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) or the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). For comparability purposes, 

estimates for Major Depressive Episode (MDE) among persons who received treatment for depression in 2008 are based only on 

the WHODAS half-sample. For details, see Section B.4.3 in Appendix B of the Results from the 2009 National Survey on Drug 

Use and Health: Mental Health Findings.

NOTE: New adult mental health questions were added to the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) 

questionnaire, which caused discontinuities in trends for MDE and for MDE with severe impairment among adults. However, 

an adjustment was applied to estimates of MDE that were affected by these questionnaire changes to allow trends in MDE 

among adults ages 18–24 from 2005 to 2012 to be included in this figure. 

SOURCE: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

 From 2005 to 2012, the prevalence of past-year Major 

Depressive Episode (MDE) was about twice as high 

among young adult females ages 18–24 (ranging from 

10 to 12 percent) as among their male counterparts 

(ranging from 5 to 6 percent).

 Similarly, from 2008 to 2012, the prevalence of past-year 

MDE with severe impairment was about twice as high 

among young adult females (ranging from 7 to 8 percent) 

as among their male counterparts (ranging from 3 to 4 

percent).

 The prevalence of past-year MDE among young adults 

was similar between 2005 (8.9 percent) and 2012 

(9.0 percent). Moreover, among young adults, the 

prevalence of past-year MDE with severe impairment 

remained stable between 2008 (5.6 percent) and 2012 

(5.8 percent).

Bullets contain references to data that can be found in 

Detailed Tables beginning on page 78.
36 America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014

Health and Safety

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE TREATMENT

Young adults ages 18–24 acquire nearly half of all new cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) each year, including 

gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, or syphilis.57 STDs affect males and females from all social strata, but there are racial and 

ethnic disparities.58 Women with untreated STDs may experience significant long-term health consequences, including pelvic 

inflammatory disease, infertility, potentially fatal ectopic pregnancies, and cancer of the reproductive tract. Infants infected 

during gestation or birth may also suffer serious health consequences.59

FIGURE HEALTH5

Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who received treatment for sexually transmitted 

diseases in the past year by gender, 2002 and 2006–2010

2002

0

5

10

15

100

Percent

2006–2010

Male Female

NOTE: Young adults were identified as receiving treatment if they answered “yes” to the following question: “In the last 12 

months, have you been treated or received medication from a doctor or other medical care provider for a sexually transmitted 

disease like gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, or syphilis?”

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Survey of Family Growth.

 In 2006–2010, among young adults ages 18–24, 

4 percent of males and 7 percent of females received 

treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, including 

gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, or syphilis. There was 

no change between 2002 and 2006–2010 in the 

percentage of either young adult males or females 

receiving treatment for sexually transmitted diseases.

 In 2006–2010, among young adults, the percentage of 

females who received treatment for sexually transmitted 

diseases was higher than the percentage of males.

 In 2006–2010, among young adults, a higher percentage 

of Black, non-Hispanic females (13 percent) than White, 

non-Hispanic (5 percent) and Hispanic (4 percent) 

females reported treatment for sexually transmitted 

diseases. A similar pattern was also observed among 

males.

 In 2006–2010, a higher percentage of both young adult 

females and males with public health insurance coverage 

reported treatment for sexually transmitted diseases than 

young adult females and males with only private health 

insurance coverage.

Bullets contain references to data that can be found in 

Detailed Tables beginning on page 81.
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 37

Health and Safety

INJURY MORTALITY

Unintentional injury (accidents), homicides, 

and suicides are the leading causes of death 

among young adults ages 18–24. Public health 

prevention efforts to reduce fatal motor vehicle 

traffic crashes include promoting seatbelt use 

and initiatives to reduce drinking and driving.60

Public health efforts to reduce violence include 

strategies to provide youth with skills, safe 

environments, supportive relationships, and 

opportunities for success.61

 In 2010, the injury death rate for young 

adults ages 18–24 was 61.2 per 100,000. 

Injuries accounted for 76 percent of the 

deaths in this age group.

 In 2010, the rate of death due to motor 

vehicle traffic injuries was 19.0 per 

100,000, and the rate of death due to 

firearm injuries was 17.1 per 100,000. 

Motor vehicle traffic and firearm injuries 

accounted for more than 50 percent of the 

deaths due to injuries in this age group.

 Between 1990 and 2010, the rate of death 

due to motor vehicle injuries declined from 

36.1 per 100,000 to 19.0 per 100,000. 

During this time period, the rate of death 

due to firearm injuries declined from 28.4 

per 100,000 to 17.1 per 100,000.

 In 2010, the homicide rate for Black, 

non-Hispanic males (93.1 per 100,000) 

was more than 18 times the rate for White, 

non-Hispanic males (5.1 per 100,000) and 

four times the rate for Hispanic males 

(23.1 per 100,000).

 In 2010, the suicide rate was 24.7 per 

100,000 for White, non-Hispanic males; 

14.6 per 100,000 for Black, non-Hispanic 

males; and 12.6 per 100,000 for Hispanic 

males.

Bullets contain references to data that can be 

found in Detailed Tables beginning on page 82.

FIGURE HEALTH6.A

Death rates among young adults ages 18–24, all causes, all 

injury causes, and selected mechanisms of injury, 1990–2010

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Deaths per 100,000 young adults

All causes

All injuries

All motor vehicle traffic injuries

All firearm injuries

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

FIGURE HEALTH6.B

Homicide and suicide rates among young adults ages 18–24 by 

race and Hispanic origin, and gender, 2010

White, nonHispanicWhite, nonHispanic

Homicides Suicides

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Deaths per 100,000 young adults

Black, nonHispanicHispanic Black, nonHispanicHispanic

Male Female

NOTE: The 1977 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards for data on race and ethnicity 

were used. Data for Hispanic origin and specified race populations other than White, non-Hispanic 

and Black, non-Hispanic should be interpreted with caution because of inconsistencies between 

reporting race and Hispanic origin on death certificates, censuses, and surveys.

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System.
38 America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014

Health and Safety

NONFATAL VIOLENT VICTIMIZATION RATES

Young adults who experience, witness, or feel threatened by violence frequently experience long-term effects as a result. In 

addition to any direct physical harm suffered, serious violence can have an adverse effect on victims’ mental health status and 

may increase the likelihood that victims will commit acts of serious violence.62,63 Such negative repercussions can damage 

the ability of young adults to maintain employment, engage in positive interpersonal relationships, and achieve financial 

independence.

This indicator presents data for young adults who directly experienced nonfatal violent victimization, which includes rape, 

sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated and simple assault.

FIGURE HEALTH7

Nonfatal violent victimization rate per 1,000 persons ages 18–24 by gender and race 

and Hispanic origin, 1993–2012

0

Rate per 1,000 persons

Hispanic

White, non-Hispanic

Black, non-Hispanic

1993 2000 2005 20121993 2000 2005 2012

50

100

150

200

Male Female

Hispanic

White, non-Hispanic

Black, non-Hispanic

NOTE: For data before 2003, the 1977 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards for data on race and ethnicity 

were used to classify persons into racial groups. The revised 1997 OMB standards were used for data from 2003 and later years. 

Data from 2003 onward are not directly comparable with data from earlier years. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected 

separately. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race. 

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey.

 In 2012, the overall nonfatal violent victimization rate 

among young adults ages 18–24 was 41.0 per 1,000, 

a decline of 71 percent from 1993, when the rate was 

141.6 per 1,000.

 During the 20-year period from 1993 to 2012, both 

males and females ages 18–24 experienced significant 

declines in the rate of nonfatal violent victimization. The 

rate for males declined by three-fourths, from 161.7 to 

41.3 per 1,000 males, and the rate for females declined 

by two-thirds, from 121.6 to 40.7 per 1,000 females.

 Between 1993 and 2012, the nonfatal violent 

victimization rate declined from 176.2 to 46.1 per 1,000 

for White, non-Hispanic males; from 126.8 to 40.2 per 

1,000 for Black, non-Hispanic males; and from 140.9 to 

31.9 per 1,000 for Hispanic males.

 Between 1993 and 2012, the rate of nonfatal violent 

victimization declined from 116.5 to 49.9 per 1,000 for 

White, non-Hispanic females; from 186.8 to 27.9 per 

1,000 for Black, non-Hispanic females; and from 73.7 

to 30.4 per 1,000 for Hispanic females.

Bullets contain references to data that can be found in 

Detailed Tables beginning on page 84.
Notes to Indicators
40 America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014

NOTES TO INDICATORS

1

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2

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3

 For the first time, the Forum is publishing a Special Issue during the alternate report year, rather than the typical Brief. The 

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4

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5

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6

 Bureau of Data and Research. (1999). National comparisons from state recidivism studies. Tallahassee, FL: Florida Department 

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7

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8

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10 Geller, A., Garfinkel, I., and Western, B. (2006). The effects of incarceration on employment and wages: An analysis of the Fragile 

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11 Holman B., and Ziedenberg J. (2006). The dangers of detention: The impact of incarcerating youth in detention and other secure 

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13 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2013). OECD skills outlook 2013: First results from the Survey 

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14 Choy, S.P., and Li, X. (2005). Debt burden: A comparison of 1992–93 and 1999–2000 bachelor’s degree recipients a year after 

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16 Total cost of attendance is equal to the sum of tuition and fees, plus total non-tuition expenses. Non-tuition expenses are 

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Report No. R40535). Retrieved from http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40535.pdf. 
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18 FindYouthInfo.gov

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21 Marsh, A., Gordon, D., Heslop, P., and Pantazis, C. (2000). Housing deprivation and health: A longitudinal analysis. 

Housing Studies 15(3), 411–428.

22 Pevalin, D., Taylor, M., and Todd, J. (2008). The dynamics of unhealthy housing in the UK: A panel data analysis. Housing 

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23 National Center for Health Statistics. (2009). Health, United States, 2008, with special feature on the health of young adults. 

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24 Collins, S.R., Robertson, R., Garber, T., and Doty, M.M. (2012). Young, uninsured, and in debt: Why young adults lack 

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25 Goldman, T.R. (2013). Health Policy Brief: Young adults and the Affordable Care Act. Health Affairs. Retrieved from http://

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26 For more details, see http://www.census.gov/hhes/families/data/adults.html.

27 For more details, see https://www.census.gov/hhes/socdemo/marriage/data/acs/ElliottetalPAA2012figs.pdf.

28 U.S. Census Bureau. (2012). DataFerrett—Current Population Survey, March 2012. Washington, DC.

29 U.S. Census Bureau. (1983). Marital status and living arrangements: March 1980. Current population reports P-20, number 

365. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Commerce.

30 Martin, J.A., Hamilton, B.E., Osterman, M.J.K., et al. (2013). Births: Final data for 2012. National Vital Statistics Reports, 

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31 Ventura, S.J. (2009). Changing patterns of nonmarital childbearing in the United States. National Center for Health Statistics 

Data Brief, 18. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 

32 Martinez, G., Daniels, K., and Chandra, A. (2012). Fertility of men and women aged 15–44 years in the United States: 

National Survey of Family Growth, 2006–2010. National Health Statistics Reports, 51. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for 

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33 McLanahan, S. (1995). The consequences of nonmarital childbearing for women, children, and society. In National Center 

for Health Statistics, Report to Congress on Out-of-Wedlock Childbearing. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics.

34 McLanahan, S., et al. (2010). Strengthening fragile families. The future of children policy brief. Princeton, NJ: Brookings 

Institution. 

35 Shah, P.S., Zao, J., and Ali, S. (2011). Maternal marital status and birth outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analyses. 

Maternal and Child Health Journal, 15, 1097–1109.
42 America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014

36 Copen, C.E., Daniels, K., and Mosher, W.D. (2013). First premarital cohabitation in the United States: 2006–2010 

National Survey of Family Growth. National Health Statistics Reports, 64. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health 

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37 From the Current Population Survey’s Volunteer Supplement. For more information, see http://www.bls.gov/news.release/

volun.toc.htm.

38 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2008). 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (ODPHP 

Publication No. U0036). Retrieved from http://www.health.gov/paguidelines/pdf/paguide.pdf.

39 Carlson, S.A., Fulton, J.E., Schoenborn, C.A., and Loustalot, F. (2010). Trend and prevalence estimates based on the 2008 

Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 39(4), 305–313. 

40 Rimmer, J.H. Developmental disability and fitness. Retrieved from http://www.nchpad.org/104/reference/Developmental~Dis

ability~and~Fitness.

41 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Current cigarette smoking among adults—United States, 2011. 

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 61(44), 889–894.

42 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2012). Preventing tobacco use among youth and young adults: A report of the 

Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health.

43 Chassin, L., Presson, C.C., Pitts, S.C., and Sherman, S.J. (2000). The natural history of cigarette smoking from adolescence 

to adulthood in a midwestern community sample: Multiple trajectories and their psychosocial correlates. Health Psychology, 

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44 Mayhew, K.P., Flay, B.R., and Mott, J.A. (2000). Stages in the development of adolescent smoking. Drug and Alcohol 

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45 Riggs, N.R., Chou, C.P., Li, C., and Pentz, M.A. (2007). Adolescent to emerging adulthood smoking trajectories: When do 

smoking trajectories diverge, and do they predict early adulthood nicotine dependence? Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 9(11), 

1147–54.

46 Bloom, B., Simpson, G., Cohen, R.A., and Parsons, P.E. (1997). Access to health care. Part 2: Working-age adults. National 

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47 Starfield, B., and Shi, L. (2004). The medical home, access to care, and insurance: A review of evidence. Pediatrics, 113(S4), 

1493–1498.

48 Ettner, S.L. (1996). The timing of preventive services for women and children: the effect of having a usual source of care. 

American Journal of Public Health, 86(12), 1748–54.

49 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2000). Oral health in America: A report of the Surgeon General. Rockville, 

MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National 

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50 American Optometric Association. Comprehensive eye and vision examination. Retrieved from http://www.aoa.org/eye-exams.

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http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/uspscerv.htm.
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52 Jensen, M.D., Ryan, D.H., Apovian, C.M., Ard, J.D., Comuzzie, A.G., Donato, K.A., et al. (2013). 2013 AHA/ACC/TOS 

guideline for the management of overweight and obesity in adults: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart 

Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the Obesity Society.

53 McCracken, M., Jiles, R., and Blanck, H.D. (2007). Health behaviors of the young adult U.S. population: Behavioral Risk 

Factor Surveillance System, 2003. Preventing Chronic Disease Public Health Research, Practice, and Policy, 4(2),1–15.

54 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General. (2010). The Surgeon General’s vision for a 

healthy and fit nation. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General.

55 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2013). Results from the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use 

and Health: Summary of National Findings. NSDUH Series H-46, HHS Publication No. (SMA) 13-4795. Rockville, MD. 

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htm#ch7.

56 As described in the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV).

57 Weinstock, H., Berman, S., and Cates, W., Jr. (2004). Sexually transmitted diseases among American youth: Incidence and 

prevalence estimates, 2000. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 36(1), 6–10.

58 Hogben, M., and Leichliter, J.S. (2008). Social determinants and sexually transmitted disease disparities. Sexually Transmitted 

Disease, 35(12 suppl), S13–8.

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62 Turner, H.A., Finkelhor, D., and Ormrod, R. (2006). The effect of lifetime victimization on the mental health of children 

and adolescents. Social Science & Medicine, 62, 13–27.

63 Schreck, C.J., Stewart, E.A., and Osgood, D.W. (2008). A reappraisal of the overlap of violent offenders and victims.

Criminology, 46(4), 871–905.

Detailed Tables
46

List of Tables

Table Page

POP1 Demographic Characteristics: U.S. population by age group and selected characteristics, 2008–2012 .... 48

POP2 Group Quarters: Residence type of young adults ages 18–24 by gender, 2008–2012 .............................. 49

POP3 Military Participation: Percentage distribution of Active Duty military personnel by selected 

characteristics, 2012 .......................................................................................................................................... 50

POP4 Imprisonment Rates: Number of inmates and rate per 100,000 persons ages 18–24 imprisoned in 

adult prison facilities by gender and race and Hispanic origin, 2000–2011........................................................ 52

ED1 Educational Attainment: Percentage distribution of young adults ages 18–24 by gender and highest 

level of educational attainment, selected years 1980–2013 ................................................................................ 53

ED2 Enrollment Rates: Enrollment rates of young adults ages 18–24 in degree-granting institutions by 

level of institution, gender, and race and Hispanic origin, selected years 1967–2012......................................... 54

ED3.A College Costs and Indebtedness: Average net price of attending college; percentage of full-time, 

full-year undergraduates ages 18–24 who received loans and grants; and average annual amounts they 

received by source of aid and selected student characteristics, academic years 1999–2000, 2003–04, 

2007–08, and 2011–12..................................................................................................................................... 55

ED3.B College Costs and Indebtedness: Percentage of undergraduate students ages 18–24 in their fourth year 

or above who had ever received federal loans, non-federal loans, or Parent Loans for Undergraduates (PLUS), 

and the average cumulative amount borrowed by institution type and student characteristics, 1989–90, 

1999–2000, and 2011–12................................................................................................................................. 57

ED4.A Neither Enrolled Nor Working: Number and percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who were 

neither enrolled in school nor working by educational attainment, gender, and race and Hispanic origin, 

2013.................................................................................................................................................................. 59

ED4.B Neither Enrolled Nor Working: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who were neither enrolled 

in school nor working by selected characteristics, selected years 1990–2013...................................................... 60

ECON1.A Labor Force: Labor force participation rates for young adults ages 18–24 by race and Hispanic 

origin, gender, and age group, selected years’ annual averages 1980–2013 ......................................................... 61

ECON1.B Labor Force: Unemployment rates for young adults ages 18–24 by race and Hispanic origin, 

gender, and age group, selected years’ annual averages 1980–2013 .................................................................... 62

ECON2 Median Earnings: Median annual earnings (in constant 2011 dollars) for young adults ages 20–24 

not enrolled in school, by educational attainment, gender, and race and Hispanic origin, selected years 

1980–2011........................................................................................................................................................ 63

ECON3 Housing Problems: Number and percentage of households with young adults ages 18–24 that 

reported housing problems by living arrangement and type of problem, 2011......................................................65

ECON4 Health Insurance: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 covered by health insurance at time of 

interview by type of health insurance and selected characteristics, selected years 1993–2012............................. 67

FAM1 Living Arrangements: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 by gender and living arrangement, 

selected years 1989–2013 .................................................................................................................................. 69

FAM2 Births to Young Adult Women: Birth rates by age and marital status of mother, selected years 

1980–2012........................................................................................................................................................ 69

America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 47

Table Page

BEH1.A Voting: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 voting in presidential election years, 1972–2012........ 70

BEH1.B Voting: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 voting in congressional election years, 1974–2010 ..... 70

BEH1.C Voting: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who voted by educational attainment and school 

enrollment, selected years 1998–2012 ............................................................................................................... 71

BEH1.D Voting: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who did not vote by reason for not voting, 

selected years 1996–2012 .................................................................................................................................. 71

BEH2 Time Use: Average hours per day young adults ages 18–24 spent in various activities by gender, 2012 ... 72

BEH3 Leisure-Time Physical Activity: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who participated in both 

leisure-time aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity meeting the federal 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines 

for Americans by selected characteristics, selected years 2005–2006 to 2011–2012............................................. 72

BEH4 Cigarette Smoking: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who currently smoke cigarettes, selected 

years 1983–2012............................................................................................................................................... 73

BEH5 Contraception: Percentage of young adult women ages 18–24 using contraception among women 

who are at risk for unintended pregnancy by method of current contraception and selected characteristics, 

2002 and 2006–2010........................................................................................................................................ 74

HEALTH1 Usual Source of Health Care: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 with a usual source of 

health care by gender, type of health insurance, poverty status, and race and Hispanic origin, selected years 

1997–2012........................................................................................................................................................ 75

HEALTH2 Obesity: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who are obese by race and Hispanic origin, 

and gender, selected years 1988–2010 ............................................................................................................... 76

HEALTH3 Substance Use Disorder: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who had illicit drug or alcohol 

dependence or abuse in the past year by age, gender, race and Hispanic origin, and poverty status, 

2002–2012........................................................................................................................................................ 77

HEALTH4.A Major Depressive Episode: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who had at least one 

Major Depressive Episode (MDE) in the past year by age, gender, race and Hispanic origin, and poverty 

status, 2005–2012............................................................................................................................................. 78

HEALTH4.B Major Depressive Episode: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 with at least one Major 

Depressive Episode (MDE) in the past year who received treatment for depression by age, gender, race and 

Hispanic origin, and poverty status, 2008–2012 ............................................................................................... 79

HEALTH4.C Major Depressive Episode: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who had at least one 

Major Depressive Episode (MDE) with severe impairment in the past year by age, gender, race and 

Hispanic origin, and poverty status, 2008–2012 ............................................................................................... 80

HEALTH5 Sexually Transmitted Disease Treatment: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who received 

treatment for sexually transmitted diseases in the past year by gender and selected characteristics, 2002 and 

2006–2010........................................................................................................................................................ 81

HEALTH6 Injury and Mortality: Death rates among young adults ages 18–24 by gender, race and Hispanic 

origin, and all causes and all injury causes, selected years 1990–2010................................................................ 82

HEALTH7 Nonfatal Violent Victimization Rates: Number and rate of nonfatal violent victimizations of 

young adults ages 18–24 by gender and race and Hispanic origin of victim, selected years 1993–2012 ............. 84
48

Table POP1 Demographic Characteristics: U.S. population by age group and selected 

characteristics, 2008–2012

Characteristic

Ages 18–24 Ages 25 and older

Number (in thousands) Percent Number (in thousands) Percent

Total 31,201 13.1 206,777 86.9

Race and Hispanic origina

White alone 21,667 69.4 159,195 77.0

White, non-Hispanic 17,600 56.4 139,690 67.6

Black alone 4,616 14.8 23,737 11.5

American Indian/Alaska Native 305 1.0 1,497 0.7

Asian 1,536 4.9 10,099 4.9

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 69 0.2 301 0.2

Two or more races 1,049 3.4 3,597 1.7

Other 1,960 6.3 8,352 4.0

Hispanic 6,536 21.0 29,730 14.4

Educational status

Enrolled in school 16,112 51.6 10,321 5.0

High school graduate 26,158 83.8 176,857 85.5

College graduate 2,903 9.3 58,754 28.4

Marital status

Married 2,834 9.1 120,363 58.2

Widowed 18 0.1 15,128 7.3

Divorced 214 0.7 26,835 13.0

Separated 181 0.6 5,294 2.6

Never married 27,954 89.6 39,157 18.9

Moved in the past year 9,926 31.8 26,006 12.6

Foreign-bornb 3,795 12.2 35,341 17.1

Speaks language other than English 7,403 23.7 42,024 20.8

Employment status

Employed 16,982 54.4 124,605 60.3

Unemployed 3,658 11.7 10,447 5.1

Armed Forces 424 1.4 706 0.3

Not in labor force 10,137 32.4 70,019 34.4

a

 The revised 1997 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into racial groups. Under these 

standards, persons could select one or more of five racial groups: White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or Native 

Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Those reporting more than one race were classified as “Two or more races.” For 2003 and after, when separate reporting was 

possible, respondents who reported being Asian or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander were combined for continuity purposes. Also, beginning in 2003, 

those in a given racial category represent those reporting only that race. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin 

may be of any race.

b

 Born outside the United States and U.S. territories. 

SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 5-year weighted estimates.

America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 49

Table POP2 Group Quarters: Residence type of young adults ages 18–24 by gender, 2008–2012 

Characteristic Total Male Female

Total (in thousands) 31,201 15,970 15,232

Housing unit (in thousands) 27,911 14,133 13,779

Group quarters (in thousands) 3,290 1,837 1,453

Total institutionalized 13.1 21.4 2.7

Correctional 12.6 20.8 2.2

Medical 0.5 0.6 0.5

Total non-institutionalized 86.9 78.6 97.3

College/university student housing 74.1 60.9 90.9

Military quarters 8.1 12.7 2.4

Other 4.6 5.0 4.0

SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 5-year weighted estimates.
50

Table POP3 Military Participation: Percentage distribution of Active Duty military personnel by 

selected characteristics, 2012

Characteristic

Active Duty

Ages 18–24 Percent All ages Percent

Total 521,940 36.5 1,429,877 100.0

Rank

Enlisted 499,609 95.7 1,182,507 82.7

Officer 22,331 4.3 247,370 17.3

Geographic location (based on assigned unit locationa

)

Inside the Continental United States 434,299 83.2 1,180,822 82.6

Outside the Continental United Statesb 87,641 16.8 249,055 17.4

Gender

Male 441,484 84.6 1,220,972 85.4

Female 80,456 15.4 208,905 14.6

Race and Hispanic originc

White, total 378,662 72.5 999,607 69.9

Hispanic 48,277 12.7 102,738 10.3

Non-Hispanic 318,657 84.2 875,916 87.6

Unknown 11,728 3.1 20,953 2.1

Black, total 78,702 15.1 235,605 16.5

Hispanic 4,297 5.5 9,202 3.9

Non-Hispanic 71,759 91.2 221,907 94.2

Unknown 2,646 3.4 4,496 1.9

Asian, total 15,782 3.0 51,791 3.6

Hispanic 670 4.2 1,708 3.3

Non-Hispanic 14,638 92.8 49,080 94.8

Unknown 474 3.0 1,003 1.9

American Indian/Alaska Native, total 9,980 1.9 22,391 1.6

Hispanic 2,066 20.7 3,960 17.7

Non-Hispanic 6,969 69.8 17,113 76.4

Unknown 945 9.5 1,318 5.9

Pacific Islander/Hawaiian Native, total 5,725 1.1 14,495 1.0

Hispanic 550 9.6 986 6.8

Non-Hispanic 4,984 87.1 13,215 91.2

Unknown 191 3.3 294 2.0

Other, total 24,199 4.6 41,622 2.9

Hispanic 4,069 16.8 6,522 15.7

Non-Hispanic 18,125 74.9 32,214 77.4

Unknown 2,005 8.3 2,886 6.9

Unknown, total 8,890 1.7 64,366 4.5

Hispanic 4,371 49.2 36,978 57.4

Non-Hispanic 3,898 43.8 23,594 36.7

Unknown 621 7.0 3,794 5.9

Family status

Single, no children 361,136 69.2 550,524 38.5

Single, with children 12,481 2.4 74,033 5.2

Married to civilian, no children 72,418 13.9 199,136 13.9

Married to civilian, with children 53,831 10.3 514,306 36.0

Dual-military marriage, no children 17,232 3.3 51,181 3.6

Dual-military marriage, with children 4,412 0.8 39,818 2.8

Unknown 430 0.1 879 0.1

Notes at end of table.

America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 51

Table POP3 Military Participation: Percentage distribution of Active Duty military personnel by 

(cont.) selected characteristics, 2012

Characteristic

Active Duty

Ages 18–24 Percent All ages Percent

Educational attainment

Less than high school completion 1,548 0.3 4,934 0.3

High school completion 478,030 91.6 952,918 66.6

Some college/associate’s degree 17,362 3.3 171,493 12.0

Bachelor’s degree or higher 17,791 3.4 270,819 18.9

Unknown 7,209 1.4 29,713 2.1

a

 Geographic location is based on the location of the unit to which an individual Service member is assigned (assigned unit location).

b

 Alaska and Hawaii are included in the Outside the Continental United States category.

c

 The revised 1997 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into racial groups. Under these 

standards, persons could select one or more of five racial groups: White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or Native 

Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Those reporting more than one race were classified as “Two or more races.” For 2003 and after, when separate reporting was 

possible, respondents who reported being Asian or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander were combined for continuity purposes. Also, beginning in 2003, 

those in a given racial category represent those reporting only that race. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin 

may be of any race.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Manpower Data Center, Active Duty Family File.
52

Table POP4 Imprisonment Rates: Number of inmates and rate per 100,000 persons ages 18–24 

imprisoned in adult prison facilities by gender and race and Hispanic origin,a

2000–2011

Characteristic 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Number

Male

Total 211,619 207,973 205,543 201,631 196,534 187,838 182,326 182,722 183,321 181,382 178,622 170,847

Race and Hispanic origin

White, non-Hispanic 53,390 54,304 54,954 54,357 53,727 52,423 49,904 48,478 48,514 46,479 44,938 42,382

Black, non-Hispanic 98,726 94,612 90,977 86,887 83,594 78,216 75,983 76,987 78,768 78,103 77,282 75,074

Other race, non-Hispanic 11,462 11,622 11,695 12,264 11,568 11,185 11,084 11,190 11,230 11,183 11,288 10,923

Hispanic 48,040 47,434 47,918 48,123 47,645 46,014 45,356 46,067 44,809 45,618 45,115 42,469

Female

Total 9,302 9,629 10,150 10,398 10,602 10,694 10,710 10,922 10,914 10,797 10,811 10,256

Race and Hispanic origin

White, non-Hispanic 3,564 3,686 4,070 4,274 4,489 4,690 4,679 4,755 4,782 4,756 4,769 4,611

Black, non-Hispanic 3,530 3,558 3,500 3,463 3,327 3,036 2,946 2,984 3,019 3,024 2,959 2,787

Other race, non-Hispanic 582 669 709 682 676 719 694 748 764 774 850 784

Hispanic 1,626 1,717 1,871 1,979 2,109 2,249 2,390 2,436 2,349 2,244 2,233 2,075

Rate per 100,000 persons

Male

Total 1,513.8 1,447.1 1,402.2 1,353.5 1,297.4 1,230.4 1,184.4 1,177.5 1,166.3 1,141.9 1,136.5 1,074.7

Race and Hispanic origin

White, non-Hispanic 615.2 610.5 607.6 592.5 576.6 559.6 530.5 513.5 510.6 487.6 492.6 463.4

Black, non-Hispanic 5,197.5 4,799.1 4,487.6 4,192.1 3,938.7 3,638.8 3,475.7 3,459.4 3,453.9 3,353.0 3,356.5 3,148.2

Other race, non-Hispanic 1,469.6 1,452.0 1,431.3 1,479.2 1,381.6 1,332.2 1,315.7 1,320.9 1,314.5 1,300.9 1,111.0 1,070.3

Hispanic 1,832.8 1,753.8 1,730.3 1,706.4 1,659.4 1,582.1 1,533.2 1,532.8 1,454.4 1,441.7 1,377.3 1,269.1

Female

Total 69.7 70.6 73.2 73.9 74.5 75.0 74.9 75.9 74.9 73.3 71.8 67.6

Race and Hispanic origin

White, non-Hispanic 42.2 42.7 46.5 48.1 50.1 52.4 52.3 53.0 53.0 52.5 54.0 52.3

Black, non-Hispanic 179.3 176.9 171.3 166.8 158.4 143.9 138.4 137.9 136.0 133.3 127.6 117.4

Other race, non-Hispanic 75.6 84.6 88.0 83.5 82.5 87.8 84.9 91.2 92.6 93.2 86.1 79.3

Hispanic 75.3 77.5 82.8 85.9 90.1 94.9 99.3 99.6 93.6 86.9 76.6 69.3

a

 For data before 2003, the 1977 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards for data on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into one of the following 

four racial groups: White, Black, American Indian or Alaskan Native, or Asian or Pacific Islander. The revised 1997 OMB standards on race and ethnicity were used for 

data from 2003 and later years. Under these standards, persons could select one or more of five racial groups: White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska 

Native, Asian, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Those reporting more than one race were classified as “Two or more races.” For 2003 and after, when separate 

reporting was possible, respondents who reported being Asian or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander were combined for continuity purposes. Also, beginning in 2003, 

those in a given racial category represent those reporting only that race. Data from 2003 onward are not directly comparable with data from earlier years. Data on race and 

Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Corrections Reporting Program, National Prisoner Statistics Program, Survey of Inmates in State Correctional Facilities.

America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 53

Table ED1 Educational Attainment: Percentage distribution of young adults ages 18–24 by gender 

and highest level of educational attainment, selected years 1980–2013

Characteristic 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Total

Less than high school 

completion 22.9 22.1 22.0 22.8 23.5 21.8 21.2 21.1 20.0 19.4 19.5 19.6 18.7 17.5

High school completion or higher

Total 77.1 77.9 78.0 77.2 76.5 78.2 78.8 78.9 80.0 80.6 80.5 80.4 81.3 82.5

High school completiona 45.8 43.9 42.4 30.9 30.4 30.0 30.4 30.4 29.2 29.3 29.7 28.3 27.6 27.6

Some collegeb 24.6 27.0 28.3 34.4 34.6 35.2 35.0 34.8 36.5 36.3 36.5 37.2 38.2 38.8

Associate’s degree — — — 4.1 3.9 4.6 5.0 5.2 5.0 5.1 5.1 5.3 5.8 6.1

Bachelor’s or higher degreec

Total 6.7 7.0 7.4 7.8 7.7 8.4 8.4 8.6 9.4 9.8 9.2 9.5 9.6 10.0

Bachelor’s degree only 6.7 7.0 7.4 7.5 7.0 8.0 7.8 8.0 8.8 9.2 8.5 9.0 9.0 9.3

Male

Less than high school 

completion 24.9 24.1 23.6 24.7 26.1 24.1 23.6 23.5 21.9 21.7 21.7 21.3 20.3 19.3

High school completion or higher

Total 75.1 75.9 76.4 75.3 73.9 75.9 76.4 76.5 78.1 78.3 78.3 78.7 79.7 80.7

High school completiona 44.0 43.0 42.2 32.8 31.1 32.8 32.0 31.9 31.7 32.3 32.1 31.2 30.3 30.5

Some collegeb 24.9 26.2 27.3 32.6 33.0 32.5 33.3 32.9 34.2 33.5 34.1 34.9 36.6 36.2

Associate’s degree — — — 3.5 3.8 4.0 4.6 4.8 4.6 4.4 4.2 4.8 4.9 5.2

Bachelor’s or higher degreec

Total 6.2 6.7 6.8 6.4 6.0 6.7 6.6 7.0 7.7 8.1 7.9 7.8 7.9 8.9

Bachelor’s degree only 6.2 6.7 6.8 6.2 5.6 6.5 6.1 6.5 7.4 7.6 7.3 7.4 7.3 8.3

Female

Less than high school 

completion 21.0 20.2 20.4 20.9 20.9 19.6 18.8 18.7 18.0 17.1 17.4 17.9 17.2 15.6

High school completion or higher

Total 79.0 79.8 79.6 79.1 79.1 80.4 81.2 81.3 82.0 82.9 82.6 82.1 82.8 84.4

High school completiona 47.5 44.8 42.5 29.1 29.6 27.2 28.8 28.8 26.7 26.3 27.3 25.4 24.9 24.6

Some collegeb 24.3 27.7 29.2 36.2 36.3 37.9 36.9 36.7 38.8 39.1 38.9 39.7 39.8 41.5

Associate’s degree — — — 4.7 3.9 5.2 5.3 5.6 5.4 5.8 5.9 5.8 6.7 7.0

Bachelor’s or higher degreec

Total 7.3 7.3 7.9 9.1 9.3 10.1 10.2 10.3 11.2 11.6 10.6 11.3 11.4 11.3

Bachelor’s degree only 7.3 7.3 7.9 8.7 8.5 9.6 9.5 9.5 10.4 10.8 9.8 10.6 10.7 10.4

— Not available.

a

 Includes equivalency certification from 1995 onward.

b

 Prior to 1995, “Some college” refers to completion of one or more years of college. From 1995 onward, the term refers to completion of any college at all.

c

 Prior to 1995, “Bachelor’s degree” refers to the completion of four or more years of college, and separate categories were not provided for master’s or higher 

degrees. As a result, estimates for years prior to 1995 in the “Bachelor’s degree” column are repeated in the “Bachelor’s or higher degree” column.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March and Annual Social and Economic Supplement.
54

Table ED2 Enrollment Rates: Enrollment rates of young adults ages 18–24 in degree-granting 

institutions by level of institution, gender, and race and Hispanic origin, selected years 

1967–2012

Characteristic 1967 a 1970 a 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 b 2010 b,c 2011 b,c 2012 b,c

Total 25.5 25.7 26.3 25.7 27.8 32.0 34.3 35.5 38.9 41.2 42.0 41.0

Level of institution

2-year — — 9.0 7.1 7.4 8.7 8.9 9.4 9.6 12.9 12.0 12.7

4-year — — 17.3 18.6 20.4 23.3 25.4 26.0 29.2 28.2 30.0 28.3

Gender

Male 33.1 32.1 29.0 26.4 28.4 32.3 33.1 32.6 35.3 38.3 39.1 37.6

Female 19.2 20.3 23.7 25.0 27.2 31.8 35.5 38.4 42.5 44.1 44.9 44.5

Race and Hispanic origind

White, non-Hispanic 26.9 27.1 27.4 27.3 30.0 35.1 37.9 38.7 42.8 43.3 44.7 42.1

Black, non-Hispanic 13.0 15.5 20.4 19.4 19.6 25.4 27.5 30.5 33.1 38.4 37.1 36.4

Hispanic — — 20.4 16.1 16.9 15.8 20.7 21.7 24.8 31.9 34.8 37.5

Asian, non-Hispanic — — — — — 56.9 54.6 55.9 61.0 63.6 60.1 59.8

Pacific Islander, nonHispanic — — — — — — — — 50.6 36.0 37.8 50.3

American Indian/Alaska 

Native, non-Hispanic — — — — — 15.8 27.6 15.9 27.8 41.4 23.5 27.8

Two or more races, nonHispanic — — — — — — — — 41.8 38.3 38.8 39.4

Race and Hispanic origin,d

 by gender

White, non-Hispanic

Male — — 30.7 28.4 30.9 35.5 37.0 36.2 39.4 40.6 42.4 38.3

Female — — 24.3 26.3 29.2 34.7 38.8 41.3 46.1 46.1 47.1 46.0

Black, non-Hispanic

Male — — 19.9 17.5 20.2 26.0 26.0 25.1 28.2 35.2 34.0 33.9

Female — — 20.8 20.9 19.1 24.8 28.7 35.2 37.6 41.4 39.9 38.7

Hispanic

Male — — 21.4 15.9 14.9 15.3 18.7 18.5 20.7 27.9 31.0 33.5

Female — — 19.5 16.2 18.9 16.4 23.0 25.4 29.5 36.1 39.4 41.7 

— Not available.

a Prior to 1972, White and Black data include persons of Hispanic origin.

b

 After 2002, data for individual race categories exclude persons identifying as two or more races.

c

 Beginning in 2010, standard errors were computed using replicate weights, which produced more precise values than the methodology used in prior years. 

d

 For data before 2003, the 1977 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards for data on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into one of the 

following four racial groups: White, Black, American Indian or Alaskan Native, or Asian or Pacific Islander. The revised 1997 OMB standards on race and ethnicity 

were used for data from 2003 and later years. Under these standards, persons could select one or more of five racial groups: White, Black or African American, 

American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Those reporting more than one race were classified as “Two or more races.” 

For 2003 and after, when separate reporting was possible, respondents who reported being Asian or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander were combined for 

continuity purposes. Also, beginning in 2003, those in a given racial category represent those reporting only that race. Data from 2003 onward are not directly 

comparable with data from earlier years. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

NOTE: Data are based on sample surveys of the civilian non-institutionalized population. Totals include other racial and Hispanic origin groups not separately 

shown. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic origin except where otherwise noted. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey. 

America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 55

Table ED3.A College Costs and Indebtedness: Average net price of attending college; percentage 

of full-time, full-year undergraduates ages 18–24 who received loans and grants; 

and average annual amounts they received by source of aid and selected student 

characteristics, academic years 1999–2000, 2003–04, 2007–08, and 2011–12

(In constant 2011–12 dollars)

Characteristic

1999–2000 2003–04

Average 

net price

Loans Grants

Average 

net price

Loans Grants

Percent

Average 

dollars Percent

Average 

dollars Percent

Average 

dollars Percent

Average 

dollars

Total (in dollars) 15,900 44.6 46,400 57.7 7,100 16,700 46.8 6,700 61.4 7,300

Gender

Male 16,200 42.3 6,500 53.6 7,100 17,100 45.2 6,800 58.6 7,200

Female 15,600 46.4 6,400 61.1 7,200 16,300 48.2 6,600 63.6 7,400

Race and Hispanic origina

 

White, non-Hispanic 16,700 44.5 6,500 54.1 7,200 17,400 46.8 6,700 57.6 7,100

Black, non-Hispanic 12,900 62.5 6,100 75.6 7,000 14,000 60.2 6,900 80.1 7,900

Asian 16,700 34.0 6,100 53.7 8,600 17,900 35.5 6,400 57.5 8,700

American Indian/Alaska Native 13,900 42.6 6,700 73.3 7,000 13,300 46.6 6,800 73.0 6,500

Pacific Islander 14,400 37.2 7,300 49.3 7,000 15,500 47.3 6,700 53.0 7,400

Two or more races 14,700 39.1 6,200 63.7 8,000 17,100 47.3 6,800 61.3 7,400

Hispanic 12,500 37.2 6,300 69.0 6,000 14,000 41.9 6,300 70.3 7,000

Dependency status and income

Dependent undergraduates 16,100 44.6 6,300 56.7 7,400 16,900 46.7 6,500 60.1 7,400

Low income 11,400 48.2 6,100 83.3 7,400 12,200 49.6 6,200 85.4 8,400

Middle income 16,000 49.2 6,200 54.3 7,400 16,800 49.8 6,600 57.6 6,900

High income 20,100 33.2 6,600 39.1 7,200 21,300 38.1 6,800 42.8 7,100

Independent undergraduates 14,500 44.1 7,600 66.2 5,600 14,500 48.3 7,800 72.5 6,200

Notes at end of table.
56

Table ED3.A

(cont.) 

College Costs and Indebtedness: Average net price of attending college; percentage 

of full-time, full-year undergraduates ages 18–24 who received loans and grants; 

and average annual amounts they received by source of aid and selected student 

characteristics, academic years 1999–2000, 2003–04, 2007–08, and 2011–12

(In constant 2011–12 dollars)

Characteristic

2007–08 2011–12

Average 

net price

Loans Grants

Average 

net price

Loans Grants

Percent

Average 

dollars Percent

Average 

dollars Percent

Average 

dollars Percent

Average 

dollars

Total (in dollars) 18,600 51.6 8,300 63.8 8,300 19,700 54.1 7,600 71.1 10,200

Gender

Male 19,000 49.5 8,300 60.4 8,200 20,000 52.5 7,600 67.9 10,300

Female 18,200 53.3 8,200 66.6 8,300 19,500 55.4 7,600 73.7 10,100

Race and Hispanic origina

White, non-Hispanic 19,500 51.4 8,400 59.7 8,100 20,700 53.9 7,700 67.4 9,900

Black, non-Hispanic 15,900 68.0 8,100 80.3 8,600 17,000 72.1 7,700 85.6 10,100

Asian 19,900 37.8 7,300 58.8 10,000 22,700 37.5 7,200 62.7 12,600

American Indian/Alaska Native 14,700 44.0 6,800 76.1 7,100 15,500 59.4 7,100 86.6 10,300

Pacific Islander 18,900 48.3 8,100 68.3 7,500 19,300 43.2 7,300 66.1 12,100

Two or more races 17,200 54.5 7,700 69.3 9,700 19,500 55.4 8,100 71.6 11,000

Hispanic 15,300 46.5 8,100 73.9 7,700 16,400 49.2 7,100 79.5 10,200

Dependency status and income

Dependent undergraduates 18,600 51.1 8,200 63.0 8,500 20,000 54.1 7,400 69.9 10,600

Low income 12,700 55.2 7,200 89.1 9,400 13,600 56.2 6,700 93.6 11,400

Middle income 18,300 55.3 8,300 61.0 8,000 19,400 58.1 7,400 70.3 10,200

High income 24,000 40.6 9,000 45.0 8,000 26,100 45.8 8,000 51.3 10,200

Independent undergraduates 17,900 56.2 9,200 71.7 6,600 17,600 54.0 9,000 80.7 7,800

a

 For data before 2003, the 1977 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards for data on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into one of 

the following four racial groups: White, Black, American Indian or Alaskan Native, or Asian or Pacific Islander. The revised 1997 OMB standards on race and 

ethnicity were used for data from 2003 and later years. Under these standards, persons could select one or more of five racial groups: White, Black or African 

American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Those reporting more than one race were classified as “Two or 

more races.” For 2003 and after, when separate reporting was possible, respondents who reported being Asian or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander were 

combined for continuity purposes. Also, beginning in 2003, those in a given racial category represent those reporting only that race. Data from 2003 onward are 

not directly comparable with data from earlier years. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

NOTE: The net price is calculated as the total cost of attendance minus grant aid. Total cost of attendance is equal to the sum of the tuition and fees plus total 

non-tuition expenses. Non-tuition expenses are equal to the sum of books and supplies, room and board, transportation, and personal expenses. Total loans 

include federal, state, institutional, and private loans. Total grants include federal, state, institutional, and private grants, including employer reimbursements. 

Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS), veterans’ benefits, and tax credits are not included in this table. Average aid amounts are calculated for 

recipients only. Income for dependent students is based on parents’ annual income in the prior year. The cutoff points for low, middle, and high incomes were 

obtained by identifying the incomes below the 25th percentile (low income), between the 25th and 75th percentiles (middle income), and at the 75th percentile 

and above (high income). Data adjusted to 2011–12 dollars using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U).

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Postsecondary Student Aid Study.

America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 57

Table ED3.B College Costs and Indebtedness: Percentage of undergraduate students ages 18–24 

in their fourth year or above who had ever received federal loans, non-federal loans, 

or Parent Loans for Undergraduates (PLUS), and the average cumulative amount 

borrowed by institution type and student characteristics, 1989–90, 1999–2000, and 

2011–12

Characteristic

1989–90 1999–2000 2011–12

Any 

loan a

Stafford 

loans 

Perkins 

loans 

Direct 

PLUS

Any 

loan a

Federal 

loans b

Direct 

PLUS

Any 

loan a

Federal 

loans b

Nonfederal 

loans

Direct 

PLUS

Percentage of persons with loansc

Total 50.4 37.8 13.0 4.1 60.0 57.8 12.1 67.7 64.3 29.0 19.9

Type of institution

Public 4-year nondoctorate 49.4 34.3 11.3 3.5 57.3 55.9 8.7 64.9 60.1 27.1 16.5

Public 4-year doctorate 49.3 36.2 11.7 3.5 57.2 55.0 10.8 64.6 61.9 25.0 16.5

Private nonprofit 4-year 

nondoctorate 61.9 51.4 15.4 7.2 71.7 68.8 16.5 74.2 71.8 38.2 25.9

Private nonprofit 4-year 

doctorate 50.4 42.0 20.8 5.1 63.6 61.7 17.2 74.1 69.2 36.9 29.0

Private for-profit 2-year 

or more ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ 85.2 83.8 29.5 85.4 84.3 38.0 38.6

Public 2-year ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ 42.9 40.0 ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Other and attended multiple 

institutions 41.3 28.8 10.9 3.8 59.9 56.1 13.5 71.0 67.7 30.7 20.3

Gender

Male 51.6 37.8 12.6 3.7 58.2 55.6 12.2 67.2 63.4 29.2 19.9

Female 49.2 37.7 13.2 4.3 61.3 59.5 12.1 68.0 65.1 28.9 19.9

Race and Hispanic origind

White, non-Hispanic 49.5 36.8 11.9 4.2 58.9 56.9 12.4 65.5 62.1 29.6 19.9

Black, non-Hispanic 68.9 57.1 23.2 7.0 76.8 74.5 15.5 90.3 88.1 31.3 30.4

Asiane 40.6 27.4 13.5 ‡ 50.6 49.5 7.5 50.8 45.2 21.4 9.9

American Indian/Alaska 

Native ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ 46.9 38.7 ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Pacific Islander — — — — 55.3 55.3 14.2 ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Two or more races — — — — 52.1 50.6 8.1 77.9 76.4 36.1 20.2

Hispanic 53.5 37.9 15.7 3.3 63.1 59.1 11.1 72.3 70.2 28.4 19.3

Dependency status

Dependent undergraduates 47.3 35.5 11.7 4.3 59.3 57.0 13.4 66.5 63.4 29.2 21.0

Independent undergraduates 59.4 44.7 16.7 3.4 62.3 60.5 7.2 73.1 69.0 28.3 14.7

Average cumulative loan amount for persons with loans (in constant 2011–12 dollars)f

Total (in dollars) 14,700 11,400 4,300 8,700 21,200 18,600 18,700 25,400 20,200 14,400 27,300

Type of institution

Public 4-year nondoctorate 9,800 9,100 3,500 7,400 19,100 17,200 12,000 20,900 17,900 10,300 19,500 

Public 4-year doctorate 13,200 10,700 3,800 8,900 20,200 18,300 15,900 23,200 19,400 11,900 22,200 

Private nonprofit 4-year 

nondoctorate 19,100 13,200 5,400 8,900 24,300 20,400 23,200 31,400 22,000 19,800 29,700 

Private nonprofit 4-year 

doctorate 22,700 13,800 5,500 9,400 26,100 21,100 27,000 30,300 22,300 19,100 41,000 

Private for-profit 2-year or 

more ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ 23,200 19,100 ‡ 38,900 31,200 18,300 33,000 

Public 2-year ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ 

Other and attended multiple 

institutions 17,200 11,800 4,100 ‡ 19,700 17,400 16,800 25,600 19,700 15,700 26,800 

Gender

Male 15,200 11,700 4,200 9,300 21,000 18,700 19,400 25,700 20,000 15,900 28,600

Female 14,200 11,100 4,400 8,400 21,300 18,500 18,100 25,200 20,500 13,200 26,200

Notes at end of table.
58

Table ED3.B

(cont.)

College Costs and Indebtedness: Percentage of undergraduate students ages 18–24 in 

their fourth year or above who had ever received federal loans, non-federal loans, or 

Parent Loans for Undergraduates (PLUS), and the average cumulative amount 

borrowed by institution type and student characteristics, 1989–90, 1999–2000, and 

2011–12

Characteristic

1989–90 1999–2000 2011–12

Any 

loan a

Stafford 

loans 

Perkins 

loans 

Direct 

PLUS

Any 

loan a

Federal 

loans b

Direct 

PLUS

Any 

loan a

Federal 

loans b

Nonfederal 

loans

Direct 

PLUS

Race and Hispanic origind

White, non-Hispanic 15,400 11,700 4,200 9,100 21,300 18,500 19,400 25,400 19,700 14,900 27,600

Black, non-Hispanic 11,700 11,700 5,400 ‡ 24,600 22,200 14,700 29,900 25,500 14,400 25,300

Asiane 12,800 9,200 4,300 ‡ 18,900 17,400 15,000 19,900 17,700 9,900 28,100

American Indian/Alaska 

Native ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ 22,000 21,400 ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Pacific Islander — — — — 18,100 15,900 ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Two or more races — — — — 20,100 17,700 ‡ 25,500 18,800 15,300 ! ‡

Hispanic 9,700 9,100 3,500 ‡ 18,700 16,600 17,500 24,300 19,600 13,500 23,900

Dependency status

Dependent undergraduates 15,000 11,200 4,400 9,000 21,100 18,200 19,400 25,200 19,700 14,600 27,200

Independent undergraduates 13,900 11,900 4,100 7,900 21,600 19,800 14,300 26,500 22,600 13,500 27,600

— Not available.

! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent.

‡ Reporting standards not met. Either there are too few cases for a reliable estimate or the CV is 50 percent or greater.

a

 May include loan types not specified in other columns. The 1989–90 data include loans from family and friends. The 1999–2000 and 2011–12 data exclude 

loans from family and friends.

b

 Includes Stafford loans and Perkins loans only.

c

 The percentage of persons with loans refers to the specified loan category only. Also, persons may have more than one type of loan.

d

 For data before 2003, the 1977 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards for data on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into one of 

the following four racial groups: White, Black, American Indian or Alaskan Native, or Asian or Pacific Islander. The revised 1997 OMB standards on race and 

ethnicity were used for data from 2003 and later years. Under these standards, persons could select one or more of five racial groups: White, Black or African 

American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Those reporting more than one race were classified as “Two or 

more races.” For 2003 and after, when separate reporting was possible, respondents who reported being Asian or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander were 

combined for continuity purposes. Also, beginning in 2003, those in a given racial category represent those reporting only that race. Data from 2003 onward are 

not directly comparable with data from earlier years. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

e

 Includes Pacific Islanders in 1989–90.

f

 Average cumulative loan amounts were calculated only for students who took out a loan or loans (or whose parents took out a PLUS loan on their behalf), and 

refer to the specified loan category only. For example, the average cumulative loan amount for students who had ever received any loans includes the amounts for 

students with any type of loan or loans, whereas the average cumulative loan amount for students who had ever received Direct PLUS loans (which their parents 

took out on their behalf) only includes the amounts for students receiving Direct Plus loans. Data adjusted to 2011–12 dollars using the Consumer Price Index 

for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U).

NOTE: Cumulative Stafford loan amounts shown in the table include federal subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans as well as any Supplemental Loans for 

Students (SLS) received in prior years. The SLS program was an unsubsidized student loan program limited to independent students and some dependent students 

with special circumstances. Beginning in 1993–94, the SLS program was replaced by unsubsidized Stafford loans, which are available to both independent and 

dependent students regardless of need. Subsidized Stafford loans are only available to students with demonstrated financial need. Direct PLUS loans are taken out 

by parents of dependent students and are used towards the students’ undergraduate education.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Postsecondary Student Aid Study.

America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 59

Table ED4.A Neither Enrolled Nor Working: Number and percentage of young adults ages 18–24 

who were neither enrolled in school nor working by educational attainment, gender, 

and race and Hispanic origin,a 2013

Characteristic

Number (in 

thousands)

Percent, by educational attainment

Total 

percent

Less than 

high school 

completion

High

school 

completion b

Some

college,

no degree

Associate’s 

degree

Bachelor’s 

or higher 

degree

Total 5,181 17.3 24.8 29.8 7.7 13.1 9.2

White, non-Hispanic 2,381 14.3 21.1 26.8 6.3 12.9 8.0

Black, non-Hispanic 1,067 24.4 31.1 37.4 12.3 19.0 9.6

Hispanic 1,310 20.8 27.0 30.4 8.4 13.5 12.3

Asian, non-Hispanic 167 10.6 12.1 ! 19.0 7.3 ‡ 12.5

Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic ‡ 18.4 ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic 122 44.4 ‡ 53.3 ‡ ‡ ‡

Two or more races, non-Hispanic 113 16.1 24.8 31.8 6.9 ! ‡ ‡

Male 2,517 16.6 21.3 27.6 7.2 11.7 10.1

White, non-Hispanic 1,160 13.7 18.8 23.7 5.4 13.4 9.6

Black, non-Hispanic 624 29.5 33.0 44.2 13.8 26.9 13.5 !

Hispanic 525 16.2 18.3 24.3 7.8 ‡ 11.0 !

Asian, non-Hispanic 82 10.2 ‡ 19.5 8.3 ‡ 10.1 !

Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic 59 42.9 ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Two or more races, non-Hispanic 54 15.4 ‡ 32.4 5.6 ! ‡ ‡

Female 2,664 17.9 29.3 32.6 8.1 14.1 8.4

White, non-Hispanic 1,222 14.9 24.1 31.1 7.1 12.6 6.8

Black, non-Hispanic 443 19.6 28.8 29.6 11.1 13.6 ! 6.8 !

Hispanic 785 25.5 38.4 37.4 8.8 22.1 13.1

Asian, non-Hispanic 85 11.0 18.4 18.3 6.2 ‡ 14.9

Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic 63 46.0 ‡ 58.1 ‡ ‡ ‡

Two or more races, non-Hispanic 59 16.7 ‡ 31.0 7.8 ! ‡ ‡

! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent.

‡ Reporting standards not met (too few cases for a reliable estimate).

a

 The revised 1997 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into racial groups. Under these 

standards, persons could select one or more of five racial groups: White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or Native 

Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Those reporting more than one race were classified as “Two or more races.” For 2003 and after, when separate reporting was 

possible, respondents who reported being Asian or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander were combined for continuity purposes. Also, beginning in 2003, 

those in a given racial category represent those reporting only that race. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin 

may be of any race.

b

 Includes equivalency credentials, such as the General Educational Development (GED) credential.

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. In 2013, about 10.6 percent of the young adults who were neither enrolled in school nor working 

were married with their own children and 16.7 percent were unmarried with their own children.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement.
60

Table ED4.B Neither Enrolled Nor Working: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who were 

neither enrolled in school nor working by selected characteristics, selected years 

1990–2013

Characteristic 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2011 2012 2013

Total 16.1 16.8 13.9 16.1 19.2 17.9 16.8 17.3

Ages 18–19, total 13.1 13.7 11.2 13.1 14.9 13.0 12.6 13.2

Gender

Male 11.0 11.6 9.8 13.1 15.8 13.3 13.0 13.3

Female 15.2 15.8 12.6 13.0 13.9 12.8 12.1 13.2

Race and Hispanic origina

White, non-Hispanic 10.7 9.8 7.6 9.9 12.6 10.4 10.6 11.4

Black, non-Hispanic 18.6 24.1 20.5 19.1 20.6 18.5 15.3 17.2

Hispanic 23.4 21.9 18.5 20.4 18.2 16.9 16.5 15.8

Asian/Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic ‡ ‡ 6.6 8.3 10.0 9.0 8.2 8.1

American Indian/Alaskan Native,

non-Hispanic ‡ ‡ 26.7 ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Two or more races, non-Hispanic — — — 11.6 13.7 15.1 13.6 10.1

Educational attainment b

Less than high school completion 17.9 16.5 12.3 14.7 14.5 10.6 11.4 11.1

High school completion 11.8 18.2 18.0 20.0 26.9 27.5 24.6 26.7

Some college, no degree 2.5 4.1 2.5 3.7 4.5 4.2 3.7 4.3

Associate’s degree — ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ 19.6

Bachelor’s or higher degree ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Family povertyc

Poor 29.4 29.0 23.6 25.4 26.7 25.5 24.0 23.6

Nonpoor 10.0 10.3 8.6 10.5 12.0 9.8 9.9 10.7

Ages 20–24, total 17.4 18.0 15.0 17.2 20.8 19.7 18.4 18.7

Gender

Male 11.5 12.9 11.0 13.9 19.6 18.9 16.8 17.8

Female 23.0 23.1 19.0 20.6 22.1 20.6 20.1 19.6

Race and Hispanic origina

White, non-Hispanic 13.8 13.9 11.0 13.6 16.6 16.9 14.6 15.3

Black, non-Hispanic 31.1 29.0 25.3 27.5 32.0 26.4 27.5 26.9

Hispanic 24.3 28.5 23.4 22.6 26.9 25.0 23.1 22.7

Asian/Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic 11.4 13.5 10.9 13.0 15.9 11.1 13.6 12.0

American Indian/Alaskan Native,

non-Hispanic 38.0 26.9 19.8 34.1 39.0 33.6 39.2 48.7

Two or more races, non-Hispanic — — — 18.7 21.2 21.5 18.4 18.5

Educational attainment b

Less than high school completion 42.8 43.1 35.9 40.4 48.8 43.6 45.0 45.5

High school completion 20.7 25.4 20.9 24.2 32.5 31.5 29.9 30.9

Some college, no degree 5.8 7.1 5.3 6.9 9.0 9.0 8.6 8.6

Associate’s degree — 6.2 5.2 10.9 12.2 12.6 10.3 12.8

Bachelor’s or higher degree 4.7 6.9 9.1 7.6 9.6 10.6 8.8 9.2

Family povertyc

Poor 42.8 41.6 31.3 34.4 37.3 35.0 34.8 34.8

Nonpoor 12.9 12.9 11.6 13.4 16.4 15.3 14.0 14.5

— Not available.

‡ Reporting standards not met. Either there are too few cases for a reliable estimate or the coefficient of variation (CV) is 50 percent or greater.

a

 For data before 2003, the 1977 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards for data on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into one of 

the following four racial groups: White, Black, American Indian or Alaskan Native, or Asian or Pacific Islander. The revised 1997 OMB standards on race and 

ethnicity were used for data from 2003 and later years. Under these standards, persons could select one or more of five racial groups: White, Black or African 

American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Those reporting more than one race were classified as “Two or 

more races.” For 2003 and after, when separate reporting was possible, respondents who reported being Asian or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander were 

combined for continuity purposes. Also, beginning in 2003, those in a given racial category represent those reporting only that race. Data from 2003 onward are 

not directly comparable with data from earlier years. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

b

 “High school completion” includes equivalency credentials, such as the General Educational Development (GED) credential, from 1992 onward. Prior to 1992, 

“some college” refers to completing one or more years of college. From 1992 onward, the term refers to completing any college at all.

c

 Poor is defined to include families below the poverty threshold; nonpoor is defined to include families at or above the poverty threshold. 

NOTE: The data presented here represent the percentage of civilian, non-institutionalized young adults ages 18–24 who are neither enrolled in school nor 

working.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, March Supplement and Annual Social and Economic Supplement.

America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 61

Table ECON1.A Labor Force: Labor force participation rates for young adults ages 18–24 by race and 

Hispanic origin, gender, and age group, selected years’ annual averages 1980–2013

Characteristic 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Total 74.1 74.8 73.7 73.0 73.4 69.8 69.8 69.0 68.7 66.8 65.3 64.9 64.7 64.7

Ages 18–19 66.5 65.3 63.7 63.9 63.1 56.9 57.0 54.7 54.2 51.4 49.1 47.9 47.8 48.0

Ages 20–24 77.2 78.2 77.8 76.6 77.8 74.6 74.6 74.4 74.4 72.9 71.4 71.3 70.9 70.7

Gender

Male 81.7 80.7 79.4 78.2 77.2 73.3 73.8 72.1 72.1 69.3 67.6 67.5 67.4 67.0

Ages 18–19 71.3 68.9 67.1 66.3 65.0 57.9 58.2 55.2 55.4 51.9 49.6 48.3 48.5 48.3

Ages 20–24 85.9 85.0 84.4 83.1 82.6 79.1 79.6 78.7 78.7 76.2 74.5 74.7 74.5 73.9

Female 66.9 69.2 68.2 67.8 69.5 66.2 65.8 65.8 65.3 64.4 62.9 62.2 62.0 62.0

Ages 18–19 61.9 61.7 60.3 61.5 61.3 55.9 55.8 54.1 53.0 50.9 48.6 47.4 47.2 47.6

Ages 20–24 68.9 71.8 71.3 70.3 73.1 70.1 69.5 70.1 70.0 69.6 68.3 67.8 67.4 67.5

Race and Hispanic origin

White 76.1 76.8 76.2 75.5 75.9 71.9 72.1 71.2 71.1 69.3 67.6 67.2 67.1 67.2

Male 83.4 82.4 81.7 80.8 80.3 75.8 76.4 74.7 74.7 71.9 70.2 70.2 70.2 70.0

Ages 18–19 74.1 71.2 70.5 69.9 68.9 60.7 61.7 58.3 58.6 55.0 52.1 51.6 51.5 50.9

Ages 20–24 87.2 86.4 86.1 85.1 85.2 81.4 81.9 80.9 80.8 78.6 77.0 77.1 77.2 77.0

Female 69.1 71.4 70.7 70.1 71.5 67.8 67.6 67.6 67.4 66.7 64.9 64.0 63.9 64.3

Ages 18–19 65.1 64.8 63.7 64.5 64.5 59.5 58.7 57.0 56.3 54.0 51.9 50.4 49.9 50.3

Ages 20–24 70.6 73.8 73.4 72.3 74.5 71.0 70.9 71.6 71.6 71.6 69.7 69.1 69.0 69.2

Black 63.5 65.3 62.8 63.2 64.8 62.4 62.7 61.4 60.5 58.7 59.0 58.2 59.0 58.9

Male 72.7 73.3 69.1 67.1 65.4 63.8 64.3 63.2 62.6 59.7 59.4 58.3 58.8 59.6

Ages 18–19 56.7 60.0 52.6 50.8 49.1 48.1 46.4 43.9 43.2 40.5 40.8 37.7 39.1 40.9

Ages 20–24 79.8 79.0 76.8 74.6 73.2 70.1 71.7 71.1 71.1 67.7 66.9 67.0 66.5 66.2

Female 55.9 58.4 57.5 59.7 64.3 61.3 61.2 59.6 58.5 57.8 58.6 58.1 59.2 58.2

Ages 18–19 45.0 47.9 46.2 49.6 49.9 44.3 49.1 43.7 41.8 41.2 37.0 36.5 39.7 40.8

Ages 20–24 60.4 62.5 62.3 63.7 70.5 68.1 66.2 65.7 65.2 64.5 66.9 66.0 66.5 64.4

Asian — — — — 58.0 55.4 52.4 53.7 53.8 50.0 48.7 49.2 47.4 49.9

Male — — — — 60.9 57.6 55.0 53.4 55.9 51.9 50.5 50.7 50.3 51.0

Ages 18–19 — — — — 46.8 36.1 36.6 35.8 36.7 32.3 34.4 32.0 29.6 34.3

Ages 20–24 — — — — 66.7 65.0 61.7 59.3 62.5 60.2 56.3 57.1 57.0 57.0

Female — — — — 55.3 53.3 49.7 54.1 51.8 48.0 46.7 48.1 44.6 48.6

Ages 18–19 — — — — 45.5 34.5 29.5 36.1 31.7 28.6 33.5 32.8 32.1 30.2

Ages 20–24 — — — — 59.3 59.2 56.1 60.1 58.2 53.4 50.9 53.2 48.7 54.1

Hispanic 69.8 68.8 71.6 68.0 73.3 68.3 69.5 69.0 68.1 66.3 64.2 64.4 64.3 64.7

Male 84.2 81.8 84.7 80.9 83.2 78.5 79.7 77.9 77.4 74.1 71.7 70.9 70.6 70.9

Ages 18–19 74.9 65.7 71.5 65.8 68.0 61.6 61.9 57.7 59.2 54.3 51.3 48.3 50.3 50.3

Ages 20–24 88.0 87.3 89.6 86.2 89.1 84.1 85.9 85.3 84.3 82.2 80.0 79.5 78.5 78.6

Female 55.0 55.4 56.1 54.2 61.5 56.7 58.0 59.2 58.2 58.0 56.0 56.7 57.6 58.1

Ages 18–19 50.3 49.1 48.0 50.2 53.2 49.4 48.9 49.6 48.7 45.7 42.2 40.2 42.8 42.1

Ages 20–24 56.9 57.7 59.2 55.9 65.0 59.4 61.3 63.0 62.1 63.2 61.5 63.0 63.3 64.3

— Not available.

NOTE: Beginning in 2003, estimates for White, Black or African American, and Asian race groups include people who selected that race group only. Prior to 

2003, people who reported more than one race were included in the group they identified as the main race. Asian estimates for 2000–2002 are for Asians and 

Pacific Islanders; beginning in 2003, Asian is a separate category. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic may be of any race. 

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey.
62

Table ECON1.B Labor Force: Unemployment rates for young adults ages 18–24 by race and Hispanic 

origin, gender, and age group, selected years’ annual averages 1980–2013

Characteristic 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Total 12.7 12.4 10.1 10.6 8.3 10.2 9.5 9.5 11.6 16.6 17.3 16.3 15.1 14.4

Race and Hispanic origin

White 10.9 10.3 8.5 8.9 6.9 8.5 8.0 8.3 10.3 14.8 15.2 14.3 13.1 12.4

Male 11.9 10.9 9.0 9.4 7.1 9.3 8.6 9.2 11.8 17.3 17.5 15.8 14.5 13.6

Ages 18–19 14.5 14.7 13.2 13.8 10.4 14.2 13.3 14.8 17.3 24.9 24.8 23.5 22.7 20.6

Ages 20–24 11.1 9.7 7.6 7.9 5.9 8.0 7.3 7.6 10.2 15.3 15.7 13.9 12.5 11.9

Female 9.7 9.6 7.8 8.4 6.7 7.5 7.2 7.3 8.6 11.9 12.6 12.5 11.4 11.0

Ages 18–19 13.0 13.1 10.9 11.2 9.0 11.1 10.2 10.6 12.2 17.0 18.1 16.7 16.7 16.0

Ages 20–24 8.5 8.5 6.8 7.4 5.8 6.4 6.3 6.2 7.5 10.4 11.0 11.4 10.1 9.7

Black 26.9 27.8 21.8 21.4 16.9 20.5 18.7 17.7 20.1 27.5 28.8 27.7 25.4 25.1

Male 26.8 27.6 22.1 21.9 18.6 22.8 20.2 19.6 22.0 31.0 32.6 30.3 28.0 28.1

Ages 18–19 36.2 40.0 28.2 35.3 24.9 31.5 31.6 30.4 32.2 44.4 43.9 42.3 38.9 41.7

Ages 20–24 23.7 23.6 20.1 17.7 16.6 20.4 17.2 16.9 19.3 27.7 29.8 27.5 25.5 25.0

Female 27.0 28.1 21.5 21.1 15.4 18.4 17.1 15.9 18.4 24.1 25.2 25.1 23.0 22.3

Ages 18–19 38.2 36.6 27.5 31.5 21.3 26.4 23.6 24.8 25.0 31.5 37.8 34.7 32.9 30.0

Ages 20–24 23.5 25.6 19.6 17.8 13.6 16.3 15.2 13.6 16.6 22.1 22.6 23.1 20.8 20.5

Asian — — — — 8.6 7.0 6.6 6.7 7.5 13.5 13.8 13.4 12.4 11.7

Male — — — — 9.3 9.6 8.3 7.2 7.4 14.2 15.5 14.9 12.2 13.8

Ages 18–19 — — — — 14.0 13.1 13.6 10.1 12.5 22.4 24.4 28.8 24.2 20.3

Ages 20–24 — — — — 7.9 9.0 7.0 6.9 6.5 12.3 14.2 11.7 10.2 12.4

Female — — — — 7.8 4.2 5.0 7.4 7.6 13.0 11.9 11.9 12.6 9.2

Ages 18–19 — — — — 13.5 6.2 9.9 12.9 15.7 24.0 20.8 21.6 19.7 19.3

Ages 20–24 — — — — 5.8 3.8 4.0 4.2 6.1 11.3 10.2 10.1 10.9 7.4

Hispanic 14.1 14.7 10.9 13.4 9.0 10.1 8.6 9.6 13.2 18.8 20.1 18.1 16.3 15.2

Male 14.0 14.9 10.4 12.7 8.0 10.0 8.3 9.5 13.5 19.7 21.2 18.2 16.4 15.8

Ages 18–19 19.2 22.5 17.3 20.3 12.7 17.6 14.8 18.0 19.8 31.2 32.6 31.0 26.9 25.9

Ages 20–24 12.2 12.9 8.4 10.7 6.6 8.1 6.7 7.4 11.8 16.5 18.2 15.3 13.8 13.4

Female 14.0 14.6 11.8 14.4 10.7 10.3 9.0 9.7 12.8 17.6 18.6 18.0 16.2 14.4

Ages 18–19 19.5 23.0 16.4 18.5 15.5 13.9 12.0 13.6 18.0 23.7 27.1 24.9 25.0 23.8

Ages 20–24 12.1 12.0 10.4 12.9 9.0 9.3 8.1 8.5 11.1 15.7 16.2 16.3 13.9 12.0

— Not available.

NOTE: Beginning in 2003, estimates for White, Black or African American, and Asian race groups include people who selected that race group only. Prior to 

2003, people who reported more than one race were included in the group they identified as the main race. Asian estimates for 2000–2002 are for Asians and 

Pacific Islanders; beginning in 2003, Asian is a separate category. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic may be of any race.

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey.

America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 63

Table ECON2 Median Earnings: Median annual earnings (in constant 2012 dollars) for young adults 

ages 20–24 not enrolled in school, by educational attainment, gender, and race and 

Hispanic origin, selected years 1980–2012

Characteristic 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Total (in dollars) 22,290 19,210 20,030 18,080 21,330 19,900 20,380 20,710 19,190 18,190 16,830 16,320 17,460

Less than high school 

completion 16,720 13,320 14,060 13,710 17,330 16,910 15,800 16,560 13,710 12,830 13,630 10,300 13,910

High school completion 22,290 19,420 21,090 18,080 20,800 19,010 20,070 19,830 17,370 17,040 15,790 16,310 15,930

Some college 22,290 21,340 21,090 18,800 21,330 19,540 20,720 21,030 20,220 17,300 15,710 15,300 15,640

Associate’s degree — — — 22,600 24,000 23,470 24,730 21,960 24,360 21,310 21,000 18,570 18,120

Bachelor’s or higher 

degree 23,960 22,780 26,360 24,110 29,700 29,370 30,780 27,260 26,650 25,390 26,300 23,140 24,990

Gender

Male 25,070 21,340 21,260 20,550 23,230 21,130 22,620 22,040 21,000 19,970 18,060 18,230 18,700

Less than high school 

completion 20,060 14,940 15,810 15,670 18,670 17,620 17,000 18,260 15,900 14,800 15,520 12,940 15,530

High school completion 27,020 21,340 22,840 21,090 24,000 21,170 21,400 20,880 20,140 19,970 17,830 18,200 17,960

Some college 25,070 25,610 22,840 21,550 24,350 21,350 22,750 22,130 21,150 18,850 16,700 16,850 16,550

Associate’s degree — — — 25,610 26,670 25,580 27,330 24,350 26,280 21,640 24,040 19,600 19,870

Bachelor’s or higher 

degree 26,470 22,410 29,170 22,600 32,670 30,950 33,100 27,620 27,630 30,050 29,810 23,970 27,420

Female 19,500 17,080 17,570 16,570 20,000 17,610 18,040 18,790 17,590 17,020 15,700 15,240 15,920

Less than high school 

completion 11,140 10,670 10,540 9,040 12,000 11,690 11,140 11,370 10,190 10,480 10,450 8,070 8,990

High school completion 19,500 17,080 17,570 15,670 18,400 15,280 17,070 17,280 15,790 14,840 12,630 13,930 14,000

Some college 20,900 19,210 19,330 15,820 20,000 17,620 17,900 19,370 17,010 16,910 14,240 13,430 14,840

Associate’s degree — — — 21,850 22,670 23,430 22,420 20,660 21,230 21,210 18,810 17,200 17,500

Bachelor’s or higher 

degree 23,680 23,480 22,840 24,110 28,400 28,130 27,810 26,860 26,460 23,430 25,320 22,280 22,810

Race and Hispanic origina

White, non-Hispanic 22,290 21,340 21,090 19,590 22,670 21,100 21,620 22,140 21,080 20,250 17,730 17,310 18,180

Less than high school 

completion 18,110 14,000 15,290 15,070 17,330 16,990 14,850 15,140 12,750 11,770 11,560 9,810 10,460

High school completion 23,680 21,340 21,790 19,590 22,190 20,450 20,340 20,160 17,950 19,230 15,640 17,300 17,910

Some college 22290 21980 21440 19,590 22,520 19,930 22,660 22,140 20,320 17,120 15,750 15,300 15,940

Associate’s degree — — — 24,110 24,670 23,480 26,010 21,920 24,460 21,240 21,020 18,290 19,810

Bachelor’s or higher 

degree 23,960 23,480 26,360 22,600 29,700 27,940 29,960 27,360 26,640 26,740 26,890 23,910 24,980

Black, non-Hispanic 16,720 12,810 14,060 15,670 18,670 16,840 17,070 17,570 16,900 13,810 14,720 13,250 13,640

Less than high school 

completion 11,140 8,540 9,140 10,850 10,670 8,840 9,350 10,880 8,800 7,630 8,300 ! 6,750 11,080

High school completion 16,720 12,360 14,180 16,570 18,670 15,900 19,040 16,280 16,930 12,850 14,890 12,190 12,130

Some college 19500 15370 17570 16,570 20,000 17,480 17,880 19,810 18,890 18,170 13,760 13,750 13,920

Associate’s degree — — — ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ 20,260 ‡ ‡ 18,940 16,840 ‡

Bachelor’s or higher 

degree 27,310 21,340 21,090 ‡ 35,330 34,570 31,390 26,330 31,720 16,980 21,240 ! 20,060 28,110

Notes at end of table.
64

Table ECON2

(cont.)

Median Earnings: Median annual earnings (in constant 2012 dollars) for young adults 

ages 20–24 not enrolled in school, by educational attainment, gender, and race and 

Hispanic origin, selected years 1980–2012

Characteristic 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Race and Hispanic origina

Hispanic 19,500 17,060 17,570 15,670 18,670 18,230 18,950 19,550 17,050 16,980 16,370 16,170 15,910

Less than high school 

completion 16,720 14,430 14,340 15,070 17,330 17,430 16,940 17,690 15,350 15,690 15,360 13,380 14,760

High school completion 19,500 17,080 19,330 15,670 20,000 18,470 19,320 18,570 17,140 16,930 16,700 16,160 15,580

Some college 22,290 21,340 19,330 18,080 20,000 17,630 21,550 21,890 20,250 18,140 15,330 17,750 16,840

Associate’s degree — — — ‡ ‡ 23,220 21,670 25,180 22,080 21,320 23,280 18,430 18,690

Bachelor’s or higher 

degree ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ 22,530 26,580 25,960 26,380 24,260 20,880 21,030 20,400 19,940

— Not available.

! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent.

‡ Reporting standards not met (too few cases for a reliable estimate).

a

 For data before 2003, the 1977 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards for data on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into one of 

the following four racial groups: White, Black, American Indian or Alaskan Native, or Asian or Pacific Islander. The revised 1997 OMB standards on race and 

ethnicity were used for data from 2003 and later years. Under these standards, persons could select one or more of five racial groups: White, Black or African 

American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Those reporting more than one race were classified as “Two or 

more races.” For 2003 and after, when separate reporting was possible, respondents who reported being Asian or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander were 

combined for continuity purposes. Also, beginning in 2003, those in a given racial category represent those reporting only that race. Data from 2003 onward are 

not directly comparable with data from earlier years. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

NOTE: Estimates are for young adults ages 20 to 24 who were not enrolled in school and who reported working or looking for work during the week prior to the 

survey. Annual earnings refer to total wage and salary earnings made during the year prior to the survey. Estimates exclude young adults who reported no earnings 

for the year prior to the survey. Earnings are shown in constant 2012 dollars, based on the Consumer Price Index, prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. 

Department of Labor. Total includes other racial/ethnic groups not shown separately in the table. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey.

America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 65

Table ECON3 Housing Problems: Number and percentage of households with young adults ages 

18–24 that reported housing problems by living arrangement and type of problem, 2011

Total With parents With spouse

Number

(in thousands) Percent

Number

(in thousands) Percent

Number

(in thousands) Percent

Households 20,043 100.0 12,444 100.0 1,502 100.0

At least one 18- to 24-year-old with own child present 2,643 13.2 774 6.2 864 57.5

One 18- to 24-year-old in household 14,214 70.9 9,052 72.7 953 63.4

Two 18- to 24-year-olds in household 4,797 23.9 2,876 23.1 519 34.6

Three or more 18- to 24-year-olds in household 1,032 5.1 516 4.1 30 2.0

All households 20,043 100.0 12,444 100.0 1,502 100.0

Inadequate housing 1,417 7.1 671 5.4 160 10.7

Crowded housing 1,149 5.7 863 6.9 98 6.5

Moderate cost burden 4,308 21.5 2,565 20.6 370 24.6

Severe cost burden 4,104 20.5 1,971 15.8 244 16.2

Severe problems 4,458 22.2 2,145 17.2 288 19.2

Very low-income households 6,757 100.0 3,098 100.0 584 100.0

Inadequate housing 756 11.2 303 9.8 92 15.8

Crowded housing 638 9.4 470 15.2 74 12.7

Moderate cost burden 1,807 26.7 858 27.7 218 37.3

Severe cost burden 3,524 52.2 1,545 49.9 235 40.2

Severe problems 3,657 54.1 1,582 51.1 262 44.9

All owners 10,952 100.0 9,169 100.0 467 100.0

Inadequate housing 442 4.0 323 3.5 35 7.5

Crowded housing 432 3.9 382 4.2 11 2.4

Moderate cost burden 1,936 17.7 1,621 17.7 71 15.2

Severe cost burden 1,393 12.7 1,090 11.9 37 7.9

Severe problems 1,561 14.3 1,206 13.2 48 10.3

Very low-income owners 1,843 100.0 1,344 100.0 69 100.0

Inadequate housing 134 7.3 89 6.6 8 11.6

Crowded housing 156 8.5 144 10.7 5 7.2

Moderate cost burden 385 20.9 278 20.7 14 20.3

Severe cost burden 941 51.1 700 52.1 30 43.5

Severe problems 980 53.2 720 53.6 35 50.7

All renters 9,092 100.0 3,275 100.0 1,035 100.0

Inadequate housing 975 10.7 348 10.6 125 12.1

Crowded housing 717 7.9 480 14.7 88 8.5

Moderate cost burden 2,372 26.1 944 28.8 299 28.9

Severe cost burden 2,710 29.8 881 26.9 207 20.0

Severe problems 2,897 31.9 939 28.7 241 23.3

Rental assistance 1,111 12.2 588 18.0 71 6.9

Very low-income renters 4,915 100.0 1,754 100.0 515 100.0

Inadequate housing 622 12.7 214 12.2 84 16.3

Crowded housing 482 9.8 325 18.5 69 13.4

Moderate cost burden 1,423 29.0 580 33.1 204 39.6

Severe cost burden 2,582 52.5 844 48.1 205 39.8

Severe problems 2,677 54.5 862 49.1 228 44.3

Rental assistance 945 19.2 503 28.7 54 10.5

Notes at end of table.
66

Table ECON3

(cont.)

Housing Problems: Number and percentage of households with young adults ages 

18–24 that reported housing problems by living arrangement and type of problem, 2011

With no other adults With other adults

Number

(in thousands) Percent

Number

(in thousands) Percent

Households 1,989 100.0 4,108 100.0

At least one 18- to 24-year-old with own child present 502 25.2 502 12.2

One 18- to 24-year-old in household 1,989 100.0 2,220 54.0

Two 18- to 24-year-olds in household 0 0.0 1,401 34.1

Three or more 18- to 24-year-olds in household 0 0.0 487 11.9

All households 1,989 100.0 4,108 100.0

Inadequate housing 245 12.3 341 8.3

Crowded housing 8 0.4 180 4.4

Moderate cost burden 444 22.3 929 22.6

Severe cost burden 843 42.4 1,045 25.4

Severe problems 896 45.0 1,129 27.5

Very low-income households 1,387 100.0 1,689 100.0

Inadequate housing 199 14.3 162 9.6

Crowded housing 8 0.6 86 5.1

Moderate cost burden 287 20.7 444 26.3

Severe cost burden 806 58.1 938 55.5

Severe problems 843 60.8 969 57.4

All owners 284 100.0 1,031 100.0

Inadequate housing 27 9.5 57 5.5

Crowded housing 0 0.0 39 3.8

Moderate cost burden 53 18.7 191 18.5

Severe cost burden 103 36.3 163 15.8

Severe problems 122 43.0 185 17.9

Very low-income owners 164 100.0 266 100.0

Inadequate housing 13 7.9 24 9.0

Crowded housing 0 0.0 7 2.6

Moderate cost burden 18 11.0 75 28.2

Severe cost burden 86 52.4 125 47.0

Severe problems 95 57.9 129 48.5

All renters 1,705 100.0 3,077 100.0

Inadequate housing 219 12.8 284 9.2

Crowded housing 8 0.5 141 4.6

Moderate cost burden 391 22.9 738 24.0

Severe cost burden 740 43.4 882 28.7

Severe problems 774 45.4 944 30.7

Rental assistance 283 16.6 170 5.5

Very low-income renters 1,223 100.0 1,423 100.0

Inadequate housing 186 15.2 138 9.7

Crowded housing 8 0.7 80 5.6

Moderate cost burden 269 22.0 370 26.0

Severe cost burden 721 59.0 813 57.1

Severe problems 749 61.2 839 59.0

Rental assistance 262 21.4 126 8.9

NOTE: Very low-income households are those with incomes not exceeding 50 percent of area median income, adjusted for family size. Inadequate housing 

refers to moderate or severe physical problems with the housing unit. Crowded housing refers to households with more than one person per room. Moderate cost 

burdens are total housing costs that exceed 30 percent but are no greater than 50 percent of income, and severe cost burdens exceed 50 percent of income.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research, American Housing Survey.

America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 67

Table ECON4 Health Insurance: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 covered by health 

insurance at time of interview by type of health insurance and selected characteristics, 

selected years 1993–2012

Characteristic 1993 1995 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Uninsured

Total 31.1 28.2 29.7 29.1 29.9 27.9 29.0 29.6 31.4 25.9 24.5

Gender

Male 36.0 32.2 33.0 33.5 34.3 31.0 32.6 33.6 36.2 28.3 27.7

Female 26.4 24.3 26.4 24.7 25.3 24.6 25.4 25.5 26.5 23.4 21.4

Race and Hispanic origina

White, non-Hispanic 26.6 24.0 22.9 21.9 23.3 21.6 22.6 23.0 24.2 18.8 16.8

Black, non-Hispanic 38.0 29.8 34.2 33.4 28.5 28.9 31.2 33.1 36.3 29.6 27.9

Hispanic 43.9 46.4 53.1 51.0 55.3 48.8 51.3 48.6 50.3 44.2 43.7

Regionb

Northeast 28.2 24.0 22.7 22.9 21.1 18.4 23.0 21.6 23.4 18.3 16.3

South 36.1 33.2 34.0 35.1 35.5 32.9 32.7 33.8 37.0 31.4 29.3

Midwest 26.0 23.9 24.0 23.1 25.2 23.9 24.4 27.6 26.4 20.7 19.9

West 31.9 29.1 35.0 31.2 32.1 31.3 32.2 30.9 33.4 28.2 28.0

Private health insurance

Total 58.3 60.9 60.9 58.0 57.0 59.0 56.2 54.4 52.3 57.2 58.1

Gender

Male 59.1 62.7 61.6 58.1 57.1 60.4 57.1 54.6 52.3 58.6 59.2

Female 57.5 59.1 60.3 57.8 56.8 57.5 55.4 54.1 52.3 55.8 57.0

Race and Hispanic origina

White, non-Hispanic 66.1 68.5 70.2 68.0 66.9 68.9 66.2 65.3 63.4 68.5 70.8

Black, non-Hispanic 39.0 45.8 46.4 43.5 45.2 47.1 42.1 37.7 34.4 42.0 43.2

Hispanic 41.2 38.1 36.7 33.3 30.6 33.8 30.7 30.8 29.8 34.8 34.4

Regionb

Northeast 60.8 65.7 66.2 63.5 62.9 65.6 59.6 58.0 56.7 61.9 63.5

South 55.1 55.0 56.6 52.3 52.5 55.0 53.5 51.6 48.5 52.5 53.5

Midwest 62.5 67.0 68.6 64.5 61.4 64.0 62.0 57.0 57.8 63.8 65.4

West 56.2 58.7 54.6 55.2 55.2 54.9 52.1 53.3 49.8 54.4 53.9

Notes at end of table.
68

Table ECON4

(cont.) 

Health Insurance: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 covered by health

insurance at time of interview by type of health insurance and selected characteristics, 

selected years 1993–2012

Characteristic 1993 1995 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Medicaid and other public coverage

Total 9.4 9.4 7.8 10.9 10.9 11.1 11.8 13.7 14.0 14.6 14.7

Gender

Male 3.6 3.9 4.1 6.7 6.9 7.2 8.0 9.7 9.7 10.8 10.7

Female 15.0 14.9 11.5 15.2 14.9 15.0 15.6 17.8 18.4 18.4 18.7

Race and Hispanic origina

White, non-Hispanic 5.7 5.8 5.4 8.1 7.6 7.4 7.6 9.4 10.0 10.4 9.6

Black, non-Hispanic 22.1 23.4 17.9 20.5 23.3 21.9 24.9 26.0 26.6 26.1 26.4

Hispanic 14.1 13.2 9.1 14.1 12.3 15.5 16.6 19.0 18.0 18.6 20.0

Regionb

Northeast 10.6 10.1 10.1 12.3 14.5 15.1 16.5 19.1 18.8 17.9 18.2

South 7.8 9.7 7.4 9.4 8.8 9.1 9.4 11.6 11.5 13.3 13.4

Midwest 10.7 8.1 6.6 11.3 12.0 10.6 11.7 13.3 14.0 13.7 13.2

West 9.2 10.0 8.2 11.7 10.2 11.5 12.6 13.5 14.6 14.8 15.5

a

 For data before 1999, the 1977 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards for data on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into one of 

the following four racial groups: White, Black, American Indian or Alaskan Native, or Asian or Pacific Islander. The revised 1997 OMB standards on race and 

ethnicity were used for data from 1999 and later years. Under these standards, persons could select one or more of five racial groups: White, Black or African 

American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Those reporting more than one race were classified as “Two or 

more races.” Beginning in 1999, those in a given racial category represent those reporting only that race. Data from 1999 onward are not directly comparable to 

data from earlier years. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

b

 Regions: Northeast includes CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, and VT. South includes AL, AR, DC, DE, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, 

TX, VA, and WV. Midwest includes IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, and WI. West includes AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, 

UT, WA, and WY.

NOTE: Data are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian non-institutionalized population. A person was defined as uninsured if he or she did 

not have any private health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), state-sponsored or other government-sponsored health 

plan, or military plan. A person was also defined as uninsured if he or she had only Indian Health Service coverage or had only a private plan that paid for one 

type of service, such as accidents or dental care. Private insurance includes any comprehensive private insurance plan (including health maintenance and preferred 

provider organizations). These plans include those obtained through an employer, purchased directly, or purchased through local or community programs. Private 

coverage excludes plans that pay for only one type of service, such as accidents or dental care. Medicaid or other public health insurance includes Medicaid, CHIP, 

and state-sponsored health plans. A small number of young adults were covered by both Medicaid or other public health insurance and private insurance and are 

only included in the private insurance coverage group.

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey.

America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 69

Table FAM1 Living Arrangements: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 by gender and living 

arrangement, selected years 1989–2013

Characteristic 1989 1990 1995 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Male

Child of householder 57.9 57.7 58.0 56.8 52.6 53.4 53.8 55.1 55.6 56.2 57.6 59.4 57.7

Living with spouse 15.1 13.9 12.6 9.9 8.7 8.3 7.6 7.4 7.4 6.7 6.2 6.1 6.0

Cohabiting — — — 6.3 7.2 6.8 8.8 8.3 7.6 7.7 8.2 7.6 7.9

Living alone 5.6 5.4 5.0 4.2 5.4 5.9 5.5 5.9 6.0 4.9 4.9 4.3 5.0

All other living arrangements 21.4 23.0 24.5 22.9 26.1 25.6 24.3 23.3 23.4 24.5 23.1 22.6 23.4

Female

Child of householder 46.5 47.2 46.2 46.7 45.5 46.3 46.5 47.4 48.0 47.9 49.2 50.9 51.1

Living with spouse 25.2 24.6 21.5 17.7 15.7 15.8 15.0 13.2 13.4 12.5 11.4 10.6 10.0

Cohabiting — — — 6.8 7.5 7.5 12.4 13.0 11.3 12.4 12.0 11.8 11.7

Living alone 5.6 4.1 4.6 4.5 5.5 5.5 5.7 5.8 5.3 4.4 4.8 4.8 5.3

All other living arrangements 22.7 24.1 27.7 24.4 25.8 24.8 20.4 20.6 22.0 22.7 22.6 21.8 21.9

— Cohabitation status is not available before 1996. From 1996 to 2006, the cohabiting category includes only the reference person and his or her partner; after 

2006, cohabiting partners that are not the reference person and his or her partner are also included.

NOTE: Child of householder category includes children in college who live away from home during the school year. Living with spouse and cohabiting categories 

include children living with a spouse or partner who are also the children of the householder. All other living arrangements includes young adults who live in 

households with other relatives or non-relatives, such as roommates.

SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement.

Table FAM2 Births to Young Adult Women: Birth rates by age and marital status of mother, selected 

years 1980–2012

(Live births per 1,000 women in specified age and marital status group)

Characteristic 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2011 2012

Total

Ages 18–19 82.1 79.6 88.6 87.7 78.1 68.4 58.2 54.1 51.4

Ages 20–24 115.1 108.3 116.5 107.5 109.7 101.8 90.0 85.3 83.1

Married

Ages 18–19 318.0 327.5 385.1 334.0 309.1 310.4 211.6 207.8 200.6

Ages 20–24 202.4 206.2 216.7 197.4 216.5 192.2 172.5 170.4 174.3

Unmarried

Ages 18–19 39.0 45.9 60.7 66.5 62.2 57.0 52.0 48.2 45.8

Ages 20–24 40.9 46.5 65.1 68.7 72.2 74.5 70.0 66.7 64.7

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System. Martin, J.A., Hamilton, B.E., Osterman, M.J.K., Curtin, S.C., and Mathews, 

T.J. (2013). Births: Final data for 2012. National Vital Statistics Reports, 62, 9. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. Ventura, S.J., and 

Bachrach, C.A. (2000). Nonmarital childbearing in the United States, 1940–99. National Vital Statistics Reports, 48, 16. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for 

Health Statistics. Hamilton, B.E., Sutton, P.D., and Ventura, S.J. (2003). Revised birth and fertility rates for the 1990s and new rates for Hispanic populations, 

2000 and 2001: United States. National Vital Statistics Reports, 51, 12. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. National Center for Health 

Statistics, Division of Vital Statistics. Unpublished tabulations. 2013.
70

Table BEH1.A Voting: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 voting in presidential election years, 

1972–2012

Characteristic 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012

Age

All persons 18 and older 63.0 59.2 59.3 59.9 57.4 61.3 54.2 54.7 58.3 58.2 56.5

All persons 18–24 49.6 42.2 39.9 40.8 36.2 42.8 32.4 32.3 41.9 44.3 38.0

Race and Hispanic origin

White, non-Hispanic 51.9 44.7 41.8 41.6 37.0 45.4 33.3 33.0 42.6 43.8 37.8

Black, non-Hispanic 34.7 27.9 30.1 40.6 35.0 36.6 32.4 33.9 44.0 52.3 45.9

Asian, non-Hispanic — — — — — — 19.2 15.9 23.4 27.8 20.1

Hispanic 30.9 21.8 15.9 21.9 16.8 17.6 15.1 15.4 20.4 27.4 26.7

Gender

Male 48.8 40.9 38.5 38.7 34.1 40.5 29.8 30.0 38.8 41.0 34.7

Female 50.4 43.4 41.2 42.8 38.2 45.1 35.0 34.6 44.9 47.7 41.3

— Not available.

NOTE: Voting rate is calculated by dividing the number of people who reported voting in the November election of that year by the total number of 18- to 

24-year-olds in that race group. This rate includes people who were not registered to vote as well as those who were not eligible to vote because they were not 

citizens. For data before 2003, the 1977 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards for data on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into 

one of the following four racial groups: White, Black, American Indian or Alaskan Native, or Asian or Pacific Islander. The revised 1997 OMB standards on race 

and ethnicity were used for data from 2003 and later years. Under these standards, persons could select one or more of five racial groups: White, Black or African 

American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Those reporting more than one race were classified as “Two or 

more races.” For 2003 and after, when separate reporting was possible, respondents who reported being Asian or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander were 

combined for continuity purposes. Also, beginning in 2003, those in a given racial category represent those reporting only that race. Data from 2003 onward are 

not directly comparable with data from earlier years. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Voting and Registration Supplement.

Table BEH1.B Voting: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 voting in congressional election years, 

1974–2010

Characteristic 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010

Age

All persons 18 and older 44.7 45.9 48.5 46.0 45.0 45.0 41.9 42.3 43.6 41.8

All persons 18–24 23.8 23.5 24.8 21.9 20.4 20.1 16.6 17.2 19.9 19.6

Race and Hispanic origin

White, non-Hispanic 25.2 24.2 25.0 21.6 20.8 21.1 17.2 17.4 20.7 19.7

Black, non-Hispanic 16.1 20.1 25.5 25.1 20.2 17.4 15.6 19.3 19.2 22.5

Asian, non-Hispanic — — — — — 10.6 9.7 10.0 10.1 9.5

Hispanic 13.3 11.5 14.2 11.6 8.7 10.1 9.0 8.1 10.2 12.2

Gender

Male 24.6 23.2 25.1 21.2 19.8 18.6 15.7 15.7 18.6 18.7

Female 23.1 23.9 25.7 22.5 21.0 21.5 17.6 18.6 21.2 20.6

— Not available.

NOTE: Voting rate is calculated by dividing the number of people who reported voting in the November election of that year by the total number of 18- to 

24-year-olds in that race group. This rate includes people who were not registered to vote as well as those who were not eligible to vote because they were not 

citizens. For data before 2003, the 1977 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards for data on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into 

one of the following four racial groups: White, Black, American Indian or Alaskan Native, or Asian or Pacific Islander. The revised 1997 OMB standards on race 

and ethnicity were used for data from 2003 and later years. Under these standards, persons could select one or more of five racial groups: White, Black or African 

American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Those reporting more than one race were classified as “Two or 

more races.” For 2003 and after, when separate reporting was possible, respondents who reported being Asian or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander were 

combined for continuity purposes. Also, beginning in 2003, those in a given racial category represent those reporting only that race. Data from 2003 onward are 

not directly comparable with data from earlier years. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Voting and Registration Supplement.

America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 71

Table BEH1.C Voting: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who voted by educational attainment 

and school enrollment, selected years 1998–2012

Educational attainment and 

school enrollment 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

Total 18.5 36.1 19.4 46.7 22.1 48.5 21.3 41.2

Educational attainment

Did not finish high school 6.2 11.9 6.4 17.6 8.8 19.6 5.1 18.2

High school graduate 13.3 25.9 13.5 34.8 15.9 36.1 13.3 25.6

Some college or associate’s degree 23.2 37.1 22.4 48.2 23.9 51.0 25.8 41.2

Bachelor’s degree or higher 26.8 60.5 36.1 66.6 35.1 68.3 33.5 61.6

School enrollment

Enrolled in high school 11.4 24.4 15.8 36.0 15.6 35.6 12.0 26.9

Enrolled in college 24.2 48.0 23.8 60.2 27.3 59.7 26.5 52.7

Not currently enrolled in school 15.6 29.7 16.9 38.7 19.4 42.1 18.4 34.4

NOTE: Voting rate is calculated by dividing the number of people who reported voting in the November election of that year by the number of citizens ages 

18–24 in that education group. This rate includes people who were not registered to vote.

SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Voting and Registration Supplement.

Table BEH1.D Voting: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who did not vote by reason for not 

voting, selected years 1996–2012

Reason for not voting 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

Not registered 70.9 66.9 73.0 66.5 75.0 63.5 73.4 61.5 72.4

Registered

Too busy, conflicting schedule 8.0 14.8 7.3 11.4 6.8 12.5 6.3 12.3 6.0

Not interested 5.1 3.7 3.7 4.4 2.9 4.9 3.6 6.3 4.0

Out of town or away from home 4.1 3.8 3.8 6.0 3.8 5.9 4.3 5.0 4.2

Forgot to vote 2.0 2.5 2.3 2.5 1.8 2.7 1.3 4.1 1.4

Didn’t like candidates or issues 2.9 1.2 1.7 1.6 1.9 1.8 2.4 1.9 2.8

Illness or disability 1.1 1.0 1.0 1.1 0.8 1.1 0.9 1.4 0.9

Inconvenient location or lines too long 0.2 0.5 0.7 0.5 0.7 1.3 0.8 0.9 0.6

Transportation problems 1.3 0.5 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.9 1.4

Registration problems — 2.1 2.8 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.7 2.3 2.7

Bad weather conditions — # # # # # # # #

Other 4.4 3.2 3.0 3.0 3.2 3.4 3.5 3.4 3.3

— Not available.

# Rounds to zero.

NOTE: This table includes only respondents who reported that they did not vote in the November election of that year. It does not include people who did not 

respond to one or more of the items indicating if they voted and if they were registered; it also excludes non-citizens who were ineligible to vote.

SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Voting and Registration Supplement.
72

Table BEH2 Time Use: Average hours per day young adults ages 18–24 spent in various activities 

by gender, 2012

Activitya

Average hours per dayb

Male Female

Sleeping 8.9 9.5

Eating and drinking 1.1 1.1

Household activities 0.7 1.0

Caring for and helping others 0.4 0.8

Work and work-related activities 3.2 3.3

Educational activities 1.2 1.3

Leisure activities and sports 6.6 4.6

Socializing 1.2 0.9

Relaxing and thinking 0.2 0.2

Watching TV 2.6 2.2

Reading 0.1 0.2

Playing games 0.7 0.1

Computer use for leisure 0.5 0.2

Sports, exercise, and recreation 0.6 0.3

Other leisurec 0.7 0.5

Other activitiesd 1.9 2.4

a

 Activities (except detailed leisure activities and sports) include related travel.

b

 The average day measure reflects an average distribution across all persons in the reference population and all days of the week.

c

 “Other leisure” includes travel related to leisure activities as well as activities such as hobbies, listening to music, arts and entertainment, and attending 

sporting and recreational events.

d

 “Other activities” includes activities such as organizational, civic, and religious activities; shopping; and telephone calls.

NOTE: Data are for the U.S. civilian non-institutionalized population.

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Time Use Survey.

Table BEH3 Leisure-Time Physical Activity: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who participated 

in both leisure-time aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity meeting the federal 2008 

Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans by selected characteristics, selected years 

2005–2006 to 2011–2012

Characteristic 2005–2006 2007–2008 2009–2010 2011–2012

Total 24.0 25.3 27.4 30.0

Gender

Male 31.6 33.4 36.1 39.9

Female 16.4 17.3 18.7 19.9

Race and Hispanic origina

White, non-Hispanic 26.4 29.2 30.5 32.8

Black, non-Hispanic 19.6 18.9 23.8 22.3

Hispanic 17.3 18.7 19.6 26.6

Poverty statusb

Below 100% poverty 21.2 23.7 23.8 25.4

100–199% poverty 20.9 24.5 22.8 27.4

200–399% poverty 22.4 23.5 28.3 28.9

400% poverty and above 31.5 29.8 35.7 40.1

a

 The revised 1997 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into racial groups. Under these 

standards, persons could select one or more of five racial groups: White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or Native 

Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Those reporting more than one race were classified as “Two or more races.” Beginning in 1999, those in a given racial 

category represent those reporting only that race. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

b

 Missing family income data were imputed for 23 to 34 percent of young adults ages 18–24.

NOTE: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends that, for substantial health benefits, 

adults should do: (1) at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity or an equivalent 

combination; and (2) muscle-strengthening activities that are moderate or high intensity and involve all major muscle groups two or more days a week. For more 

information, go to http://www.health.gov/paguidelines/guidelines/chapter4.aspx.

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey.

America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 73

Table BEH4 Cigarette Smoking: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who currently smoke 

cigarettes, selected years 1983–2012

Characteristic 1983 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2011 2012

Total 34.2 29.3 24.5 24.8 26.5 24.4 20.1 18.9 17.3

Race and Hispanic origina

White, non-Hispanic 35.9 31.4 27.9 28.6 31.6 28.6 24.0 22.8 22.1

Black, non-Hispanic 32.5 25.5 15.1 11.1 17.2 17.2 16.7 14.0 10.0

Hispanic 23.5 19.4 18.1 16.7 16.8 17.6 11.1 11.5 11.2

Poverty statusb

Below 100% poverty 34.6 29.3 26.0 22.4 27.8 24.2 23.1 20.6 19.5

100–199% poverty 37.7 33.0 27.9 26.6 29.3 26.5 24.4 21.2 18.9

200% poverty and above 31.7 27.6 22.4 25.2 24.9 23.5 16.5 16.8 15.1

Location of residencec

Metropolitan 33.3 29.1 23.7 24.8 25.9 23.0 19.2 17.4 15.4

Non-metropolitan 36.3 29.6 27.4 24.7 28.6 30.5 25.8 27.6 27.7

Male

Total 32.9 28.0 26.6 27.8 28.1 28.0 22.8 21.3 20.1

Race and Hispanic origina

White, non-Hispanic 33.3 29.2 28.0 31.0 32.8 31.5 26.7 24.7 24.1

Black, non-Hispanic 33.2 26.7 21.4 * 20.4 20.8 19.0 18.3 13.2

Hispanic 27.1 22.2 24.3 15.8 19.0 24.2 14.4 14.4 15.0

Poverty statusb

Below 100% poverty 30.5 23.7 28.0 19.9 28.4 28.8 27.7 24.5 24.2

100–199% poverty 35.6 32.8 32.3 32.9 31.5 31.4 27.7 22.4 21.3

200% poverty and above 31.4 27.3 23.9 29.2 26.7 26.2 18.3 19.3 17.5

Location of residencec

Metropolitan 30.2 27.3 25.6 27.7 28.5 27.0 22.1 20.6 18.3

Non-metropolitan 38.4 30.5 30.5 28.5 26.8 32.6 27.7 25.8 30.3

Female

Total 35.5 30.4 22.5 21.8 24.9 20.7 17.4 16.4 14.5

Race and Hispanic origina

White, non-Hispanic 38.3 33.5 27.8 26.3 30.5 25.8 21.3 21.0 20.1

Black, non-Hispanic 31.9 24.5 9.8 7.8 14.4 13.9 14.4 9.9 7.3

Hispanic 19.5 16.8 12.9 17.6 14.3 10.2 7.5 8.0 7.2

Poverty statusb

Below 100% poverty 37.8 34.0 24.5 24.5 27.3 20.2 19.2 17.3 15.9

100–199% poverty 39.8 33.0 23.9 20.0 27.3 21.7 20.9 20.0 16.5

200% poverty and above 32.0 27.8 20.8 21.1 23.0 20.5 14.5 13.7 12.2

Location of residencec

Metropolitan 36.1 30.9 22.0 22.0 23.3 19.1 16.2 14.2 12.5

Non-metropolitan 34.2 28.8 24.5 20.8 30.5 28.2 24.2 29.5 25.1

* Estimate is considered unreliable (relative standard error greater than 30 percent).

a

 For data before 1999, the 1977 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards for data on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into one of 

the following four racial groups: White, Black, American Indian or Alaskan Native, or Asian or Pacific Islander. The revised 1997 OMB standards on race and 

ethnicity were used for data from 1999 and later years. Under these standards, persons could select one or more of five racial groups: White, Black or African 

American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Those reporting more than one race were classified as “Two or 

more races.” Beginning in 1999, those in a given racial category represent those reporting only that race. Data from 1999 onward are not directly comparable to 

data from earlier years. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

b

 Missing family income data were imputed for 13 to 34 percent of young adults ages 18–24 in 1990–2012.

c

 “Metropolitan” is defined as a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), while “Non-metropolitan” is defined as an area outside of an MSA. An MSA is a county, 

or group of contiguous counties, that contains at least one urbanized area of 50,000 or more population. For more information on MSAs, see National Center 

for Health Statistics. (2013). Health, United States, 2012: With special feature on emergency care. Hyattsville, MD: Author. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/

nchs/data/hus/hus12.pdf.

NOTE: From 1983–1992, current smoking was defined as ever smoking 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and smoking now (traditional definition). Starting with 

1993, current cigarette smoking was defined as ever smoking 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and smoking now every day or some days (revised definition). In 

1992, half of the sample received traditional smoking questions and half received the revised questions. For more methodology information, see http://www.cdc.

gov/nchs/nhis/tobacco.htm. In 1997, the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) was redesigned. Data for 1997–2012 are not strictly comparable to prior 

years of data. In 2006, the NHIS underwent a sample redesign. The impact of the new sample design on estimates is expected to be minimal.

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey.
74

Table BEH5 Contraception: Percentage of young adult women ages 18–24 using contraception 

among women who are at risk for unintended pregnancy by method of current 

contraception and selected characteristics, 2002 and 2006–2010

Characteristic

2002 2006–2010

No 

method Pill use

Other 

hormonal 

use 

Condom 

use Dual use

No 

method Pill use

Other 

hormonal 

use 

Condom 

use Dual use

Age group

Total, ages 18–24 13.9 44.5 10.9 33.2 11.6 14.1 42.0 11.3 32.9 11.9

Ages 18–19 19.0 39.7 12.4 37.8 13.2 17.1 44.6 13.1 28.8 12.5

Ages 20–24 12.1 46.2 10.3 31.7 11.1 13.0 41.1 10.7 34.4 11.7

Race and Hispanic origina

White, non-Hispanic 11.2 52.4 8.2 33.2 13.3 11.7 50.6 9.3 32.4 14.2

Black, non-Hispanic 24.0 28.5 18.3 31.6 7.3 22.2 17.4 17.8 39.7 8.6

Hispanic 13.4 30.7 16.0 32.3 8.5 15.2 30.7 13.0 31.4 5.7

Health insurance statusb

Private 12.9 56.7 6.7 31.4 14.4 11.9 54.9 9.2 33.1 15.2

Public only 12.7 25.8 23.9 34.1 9.8 16.0 26.8 17.9 29.2 9.6

Uninsured 18.3 22.0 11.8 38.5 3.9 17.9 23.2 10.9 36.0 5.8

Poverty statusc

Below 100% poverty 18.0 33.4 13.9 29.1 9.0 17.5 33.1 15.5 26.4 7.1

100–199% poverty 12.1 42.2 15.5 29.8 7.8 11.2 38.2 11.3 38.6 14.7

200% poverty and above 12.7 50.8 7.5 36.6 14.5 13.7 49.1 9.0 33.7 13.2

a

 The revised 1997 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into racial groups. Under these 

standards, persons could select one or more of five racial groups: White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or Native 

Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Those reporting more than one race were classified as “Two or more races.” Those in a given racial category represent those 

reporting only that race. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

b

 Health insurance status at time of interview. The “private insurance” category also includes young adults responding they had both private and public insurance 

at the time of interview.

c

 Missing family income data were imputed for 8 percent of young adult women ages 18–24 in 2002 and 13 percent of young women ages 18–24 in 2006–2010.

NOTE: Current contraception refers to the method used in the month of the interview. Other hormonal use includes use of contraceptive implants, injectables, 

patches, and rings. Dual use refers to concurrent use of a hormonal method and condoms. Women are at risk of unintended pregnancy if they are either currently 

using contraception or have had intercourse in the last three months among those who were not currently pregnant, postpartum, trying to get pregnant, or sterile 

for non-contraceptive reasons. Contraceptive methods shown in the table are not mutually exclusive.

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Survey of Family Growth.

America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 75

Table HEALTH1 Usual Source of Health Care: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 with a usual 

source of health care by gender, type of health insurance, poverty status, and race and 

Hispanic origin, selected years 1997–2012

Characteristic 1997 2000 2005 2006 a 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Total 71.8 74.5 69.4 71.0 71.7 71.1 69.7 70.7 73.1 71.3

Gender

Male 63.8 66.1 60.9 63.5 65.8 62.7 64.5 64.9 68.0 66.1

Female 79.9 82.8 77.9 78.4 77.5 79.5 75.0 76.6 78.3 76.6

Type of insurance

Private insurance 80.8 84.9 82.6 84.0 84.3 81.4 81.7 82.5 85.0 82.5

Medicaid or other public 

insuranceb 85.3 87.5 82.3 85.6 81.2 84.1 82.9 85.7 84.8 81.0

Uninsured 49.8 49.7 39.3 42.2 41.5 43.7 40.2 41.5 39.5 38.8

Poverty statusc

Below 100% poverty 66.9 70.1 65.0 68.4 72.1 64.6 66.4 64.1 68.2 67.6

100–199% poverty 67.3 64.4 63.6 60.5 64.0 66.5 64.2 64.3 66.5 63.5

200% poverty and above 76.3 80.1 74.2 76.5 74.5 75.8 73.9 77.1 79.2 78.2

Race and Hispanic origind

White, non-Hispanic 76.0 79.0 73.6 75.5 75.4 75.4 73.1 76.1 78.5 76.9

Black, non-Hispanic 68.4 73.7 70.3 74.3 69.9 68.3 67.8 69.0 70.7 68.0

Hispanic 59.3 56.4 54.6 52.4 57.0 59.9 60.1 54.4 60.3 58.8

a

 In 2006, the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) underwent a sample redesign. The impact of the new sample design on estimates is expected to be 

minimal.

b

 A small number of young adults were covered by both Medicaid or other public health insurance and private insurance and are only included in the private 

insurance coverage group.

c

 Missing family income data were imputed for approximately 23 to 34 percent of persons ages 18–24 from 1997 to 2012.

d

 For data before 1999, the 1977 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards for data on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into one of 

the following four racial groups: White, Black, American Indian or Alaskan Native, or Asian or Pacific Islander. The revised 1997 OMB standards on race and 

ethnicity were used for data from 1999 and later years. Under these standards, persons could select one or more of five racial groups: White, Black or African 

American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Those reporting more than one race were classified as “Two or 

more races.” Beginning in 1999, those in a given racial category represent those reporting only that race. Data from 1999 onward are not directly comparable to 

data from earlier years. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

NOTE: Data are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian non-institutionalized population. The usual place to go for medical care does not 

include a hospital emergency room. 

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey.
76

Table HEALTH2 Obesity: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who are obese by race and 

Hispanic origin, and gender, selected years 1988–2010

Characteristic 1988–1994 1999–2002 2003–2006 2007–2010

Total 11.8 20.3 23.0 22.7

Race and Hispanic origina

White, non-Hispanic 11.2 19.0 21.4 20.9

Black, non-Hispanic 17.9 25.4 34.3 31.3

Mexican-American 13.0 22.5 20.5 23.6

Gender

Male 11.1 18.4 23.4 18.8

Female 12.6 22.3 22.6 26.9

a

 From 1988 to 1994, the 1977 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards for data on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into one of the 

following four racial groups: White, Black, American Indian or Alaskan Native, or Asian or Pacific Islander. For 1999–2010, the revised 1997 OMB standards 

for data on race and ethnicity were used. Persons could select one or more of five racial groups: White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska 

Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Included in the total but not shown separately are American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Native 

Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and “Two or more races.” Beginning in 1999, those in each racial category represent those reporting only one race. Data from 

1999 onward are not directly comparable with data from earlier years. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately but combined for reporting. 

Persons of Mexican origin may be of any race. 

NOTE: Obesity is defined as body mass index ≥ 30 kilograms per meter squared (kg/m2). All estimates have a relative standard error of less than 30 percent and 

meet agency standards for publication. 

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 77

Table HEALTH3 Substance Use Disorder: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who had illicit 

drug or alcohol dependence or abuse in the past year by age, gender, race and 

Hispanic origin, and poverty status, 2002–2012

Characteristic 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Total 22.4 21.5 21.6 22.2 21.7 21.2 21.2 20.3 20.1 18.8 19.2

Age

Ages 18–19 21.4 20.8 21.3 21.3 21.0 19.1 20.3 18.9 18.4 17.3 17.7

Ages 20–21 24.5 22.7 24.3 23.1 22.5 23.5 21.5 21.6 22.2 19.8 20.2

Ages 22–24 21.7 21.2 20.1 22.2 21.8 21.3 21.6 20.6 19.8 19.2 19.6

Gender

Male 28.3 26.6 27.1 27.0 25.8 26.3 25.0 25.1 24.6 22.7 22.8

Female 16.4 16.3 16.1 17.3 17.5 16.0 17.2 15.4 15.4 14.9 15.5

Race and Hispanic origina

White, non-Hispanic 25.3 23.7 24.6 24.8 25.1 24.1 23.8 22.9 22.2 21.1 21.4

Black, non-Hispanic 15.9 14.8 15.4 15.8 14.4 15.4 14.6 14.2 15.2 13.8 15.7

Hispanic 18.4 19.1 18.5 19.7 16.4 17.0 18.9 18.5 18.7 17.1 17.3

Other 18.5 20.6 14.8 17.2 19.7 17.9 17.0 15.3 16.4 16.2 15.2

Poverty statusb

Below 100% poverty 22.5 21.4 21.6 21.7 20.4 20.0 19.6 19.9 19.9 18.3 18.3

100–199% poverty 21.5 19.8 19.7 20.8 20.9 20.3 19.6 18.9 18.2 17.1 17.7

200% poverty and above 22.9 22.4 22.7 22.8 22.6 21.9 22.6 21.4 21.1 19.8 20.4

a

 The revised 1997 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into racial groups. Under these 

standards, persons could select one or more of five racial groups: White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or Native 

Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Those reporting more than one race were classified as “Two or more races.” For 2003 and after, when separate reporting was 

possible, respondents who reported being Asian or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander were combined for continuity purposes. Also, beginning in 2003, 

those in a given racial category represent those reporting only that race. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin 

may be of any race.

b

 Estimates are based on a definition of poverty level that incorporates information on family income, size, and composition and is calculated as a percentage of 

the U.S. Census Bureau’s poverty thresholds. Respondents ages 18–24 who were living in a college dormitory were excluded.

NOTE: Some 2006 to 2010 estimates may differ from previously published estimates due to updates (see Section B.3 in Appendix B of the Results from the 2012 

National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental Health Findings). “Substance Use Disorder” is defined as meeting criteria for illicit drug or alcohol dependence or 

abuse. Dependence or abuse is based on definitions found in the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV).1

SOURCE: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Survey on Drug Use 

and Health.

1

 American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-IV) (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
78

Table HEALTH4.A Major Depressive Episode: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who had at least 

one Major Depressive Episode (MDE) in the past year by age, gender, race and 

Hispanic origin, and poverty status, 2005–2012

Characteristic 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Total 8.9 8.0 8.0 8.4 7.8 8.4 8.4 9.0

Age

Ages 18–19 8.4 7.9 6.9 8.1 8.5 8.3 8.8 9.5

Ages 20–21 9.0 8.2 8.3 8.1 6.6 8.4 8.8 9.1

Ages 22–24 9.2 7.8 8.6 8.8 8.1 8.5 7.9 8.6

Gender

Male 5.8 5.5 5.2 5.2 5.4 5.3 5.7 6.2

Female 12.0 10.6 10.8 11.6 10.3 11.7 11.2 11.8

Race and Hispanic origina

White, non-Hispanic 9.6 8.6 9.0 8.5 8.8 9.0 9.5 10.1

Black, non-Hispanic 7.3 7.2 6.5 6.9 5.5 7.6 5.4 5.7

American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic 10.9 9.3 — 8.1 6.6 4.5 2.5 8.7

Asian, non-Hispanic 6.1 5.2 5.0 6.8 7.1 4.7 8.4 7.5

Two or more races, non-Hispanic 14.9 17.0 10.2 15.9 10.7 15.2 12.4 14.1

Hispanic 7.9 6.1 6.1 9.1 6.4 7.5 7.2 8.3

Poverty statusb

Below 100% poverty 8.9 8.5 8.5 9.6 7.9 7.8 8.4 9.0

100–199% poverty 9.9 8.5 8.0 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.2 8.4

200% poverty and above 8.5 7.6 7.8 7.9 7.3 8.7 8.6 9.2

— Low precision; no estimate reported.

a

 The revised 1997 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into racial groups. Under these 

standards, persons could select one or more of five racial groups: White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or Native 

Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Those reporting more than one race were classified as “Two or more races.” For 2003 and after, when separate reporting was 

possible, respondents who reported being Asian or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander were combined for continuity purposes. Also, beginning in 2003, 

those in a given racial category represent those reporting only that race. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin 

may be of any race.

b

 Estimates are based on a definition of poverty level that incorporates information on family income, size, and composition and is calculated as a percentage of 

the U.S. Census Bureau’s poverty thresholds. Respondents ages 18–24 who were living in a college dormitory were excluded.

NOTE: Some 2006 to 2010 estimates may differ from previously published estimates due to updates (see Section B.3 in Appendix B of the Results from the 2012 

National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental Health Findings). A Major Depressive Episode (MDE) is defined as in the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and 

Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV),1 which specifies a period of at least two weeks when a person experienced a depressed mood or loss of interest 

or pleasure in daily activities and had a majority of specified depression symptoms. Respondents with unknown past-year MDE data were excluded. Estimates 

for 2005 to 2008 are based on an adjusted MDE variable and may differ from estimates published in prior National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) 

reports. See Section B.4.4 in Appendix B of the Results from the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental Health Findings.

SOURCE: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Survey on Drug Use 

and Health.

1

 American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-IV) (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 79

Table HEALTH4.B Major Depressive Episode: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 with at least one 

Major Depressive Episode (MDE) in the past year who received treatment for 

depression by age, gender, race and Hispanic origin, and poverty status, 2008–2012

Characteristic 2008 a 2009 2010 2011 2012

Total 44.3 46.0 47.7 47.5 48.9

Age

Ages 18–19 44.1 41.8 41.2 44.7 45.9

Ages 20–21 37.5 47.2 47.7 46.6 51.0

Ages 22–24 48.7 48.9 52.4 50.4 49.6

Gender

Male 33.7 37.2 37.6 38.3 38.8

Female 48.8 50.8 52.5 52.1 54.1

Race and Hispanic originb

White, non-Hispanic 47.0 50.4 51.8 52.9 56.8

Black, non-Hispanic — 36.4 37.0 30.6 36.4

Hispanic 42.7 32.2 41.6 39.5 37.3

Poverty statusc

Below 100% poverty 38.1 43.4 46.3 51.1 51.9

100–199% poverty 54.1 42.0 44.8 40.7 45.5

200% poverty and above 41.7 48.5 49.5 48.7 48.4

— Low precision; no estimate reported.

a

 In 2008, a split-sample design randomly assigned adults ages 18 or older to one of two impairment scales, the World Health Organization Disability Assessment 

Schedule (WHODAS) or the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). For comparability purposes, estimates for Major Depressive Episode (MDE) among persons who 

received treatment for depression for 2008 are based only on the WHODAS half-sample. For details, see Section B.4.3 in Appendix B of the Results from the 2009 

National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental Health Findings.

b

 The revised 1997 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into racial groups. Under these 

standards, persons could select one or more of five racial groups: White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or Native 

Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Those reporting more than one race were classified as “Two or more races.” For 2003 and after, when separate reporting was 

possible, respondents who reported being Asian or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander were combined for continuity purposes. Also, beginning in 2003, 

those in a given racial category represent those reporting only that race. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin 

may be of any race.

c

 Estimates are based on a definition of poverty level that incorporates information on family income, size, and composition and is calculated as a percentage of 

the U.S. Census Bureau’s poverty thresholds. Respondents ages 18–24 who were living in a college dormitory were excluded.

NOTE: Some 2008 to 2010 estimates may differ from previously published estimates due to updates (see Section B.3 in Appendix B of the Results from the 2012 

National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental Health Findings). A Major Depressive Episode (MDE) is defined as in the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and 

Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV),1 which specifies a period of at least two weeks when a person experienced a depressed mood or loss of interest 

or pleasure in daily activities and had a majority of specified depression symptoms. Respondents with unknown past-year MDE data were excluded. Treatment is 

defined as seeing or talking to a medical doctor or other professional or using prescription medication in the past year for depression. Respondents with unknown 

treatment data were excluded.

SOURCE: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Survey on Drug Use 

and Health.

1

 American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-IV) (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
80

Table HEALTH4.C Major Depressive Episode: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 who had at least 

one Major Depressive Episode (MDE) with severe impairment in the past year by age, 

gender, race and Hispanic origin, and poverty status, 2008–2012

Characteristic 2008 a 2009 2010 2011 2012

Total 5.6 5.0 5.3 5.3 5.8

Age

Ages 18–19 5.6 5.4 4.6 5.4 6.0

Ages 20–21 5.8 4.3 5.7 5.7 5.8

Ages 22–24 5.4 5.2 5.6 4.9 5.6

Gender

Male 3.2 3.4 3.5 3.5 4.1

Female 8.0 6.7 7.3 7.1 7.5

Race and Hispanic originb

White, non-Hispanic 5.7 5.7 5.8 6.0 6.5

Black, non-Hispanic 5.2 3.5 3.9 2.7 3.7

American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic 2.7 4.9 3.1 1.9 6.8

Asian, non-Hispanic 3.3 4.7 2.1 5.6 4.1

Two or more races, non-Hispanic 15.1 7.0 9.4 7.6 9.0

Hispanic 4.9 4.0 5.2 4.9 5.5

Poverty statusc

Below 100% poverty 5.8 5.2 4.9 5.4 5.4

100–199% poverty 6.3 5.3 5.9 5.3 5.8

200% poverty and above 5.0 4.8 5.3 5.2 6.0

a

 In 2008, a split-sample design randomly assigned adults ages 18 or older to one of two impairment scales, the World Health Organization Disability Assessment 

Schedule (WHODAS) or the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). For comparability purposes, estimates for Major Depressive Episode (MDE) with severe 

impairment for 2008 are based only on the WHODAS half-sample. For details, see Section B.4.3 in Appendix B of the Results from the 2009 National Survey on 

Drug Use and Health: Mental Health Findings.

b

 The revised 1997 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into racial groups. Under these 

standards, persons could select one or more of five racial groups: White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or Native 

Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Those reporting more than one race were classified as “Two or more races.” For 2003 and after, when separate reporting was 

possible, respondents who reported being Asian or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander were combined for continuity purposes. Also, beginning in 2003, 

those in a given racial category represent those reporting only that race. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin 

may be of any race.

c

 Estimates are based on a definition of poverty level that incorporates information on family income, size, and composition and is calculated as a percentage of 

the U.S. Census Bureau’s poverty thresholds. Respondents ages 18–24 who were living in a college dormitory were excluded.

NOTE: Some 2008 to 2010 estimates may differ from previously published estimates due to updates (see Section B.3 in Appendix B of the Results from the 2012 

National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental Health Findings). A Major Depressive Episode (MDE) is defined as in the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and 

Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV),1 which specifies a period of at least two weeks when a person experienced a depressed mood or loss of interest 

or pleasure in daily activities and had a majority of specified depression symptoms. Respondents with unknown past-year MDE data were excluded. Impairment 

is based on the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS)2 role domains, which measure the impact of a disorder on a person’s life. Impairment is defined as the highest 

severity level of role impairment across four domains: (1) home management, (2) work, (3) close relationships with others, and (4) social life. Ratings ≥ 7 on a 0 

to 10 scale were considered severe impairment. Respondents with unknown severe impairment data were excluded.

SOURCE: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Survey on Drug Use 

and Health.

1

 American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-IV) (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

2

 Leon, A.C., Olfson, M., Portera, L., Farber, L., and Sheehan, D.V. (1997). Assessing psychiatric impairment in primary care with the Sheehan Disability Scale. 

International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 27(2), 93–105.

America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 81

Table HEALTH5 Sexually Transmitted Disease Treatment: Percentage of young adults ages 18–24 

who received treatment for sexually transmitted diseases in the past year by gender and 

selected characteristics, 2002 and 2006–2010

Characteristic 2002 2006–2010

Male

Total 4.7 4.0

Race and Hispanic origina

White, non-Hispanic 3.0 3.1

Black, non-Hispanic 6.1 9.3

Hispanic 8.7 3.7

Health insurance statusb

Private only 4.9 2.8

Public 2.7 7.4

Uninsured 5.2 4.7

Poverty statusc

Below 100% poverty 9.5 5.8

100–199% poverty 3.1 4.3

200% poverty and above 3.8 3.0

Female

Total 5.1 6.6

Race and Hispanic origina

White, non-Hispanic 4.3 5.2

Black, non-Hispanic 7.4 12.5

Hispanic 4.7 3.9

Health insurance statusb

Private only 4.0 3.8

Public 9.1 11.4

Uninsured 4.5 9.2

Poverty statusc

Below 100% poverty 6.2 9.2

100–199% poverty 6.4 7.8

200% poverty and above 3.8 4.5

a

 The revised 1997 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into racial groups. Under these 

standards, persons could select one or more of five racial groups: White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or Native 

Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Those reporting more than one race were classified as “Two or more races.” Those in a given racial category represent those 

reporting only that race. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

b

 Health insurance status at time of interview. The “public insurance” category also includes young adults responding they had both public and private insurance 

at the time of interview.

c

 Missing family income data were imputed for 8 percent of young adults ages 18–24 in 2002 and 13 percent of young adults ages 18–24 in 2006–2010.

NOTE: Young adults were identified as receiving treatment if they answered “yes” to the following question: “In the last 12 months, have you been treated or 

received medication from a doctor or other medical care provider for a sexually transmitted disease like gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, or syphilis?”

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Survey of Family Growth.
82

Table HEALTH6 Injury and Mortality: Death rates among young adults ages 18–24 by gender, race and 

Hispanic origin,a and all causes and all injury causes,b selected years 1990–2010

(Deaths per 100,000 young adults ages 18–24)

Characteristic 1990 1995 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Total (all races)

All causes 108.9 103.9 91.4 92.3 93.1 94.4 92.0 94.6 96.6 94.0 88.3 82.8 80.9

All injuries 85.0 79.3 68.8 69.7 71.3 71.6 70.3 72.4 74.7 73.0 67.2 60.8 61.2

Unintentional injuries 47.4 41.0 40.1 40.3 42.2 42.0 41.7 43.2 44.9 43.7 39.1 34.2 34.1

Homicide 22.2 22.2 15.5 16.3 15.8 16.1 14.7 15.7 16.1 15.6 14.6 13.4 12.9

Suicide 14.8 15.1 11.8 11.5 11.6 11.5 12.2 11.8 11.7 11.7 11.7 11.7 12.6

Leading mechanisms of injury

Motor vehicle traffic 36.1 30.7 29.0 29.0 30.1 28.7 28.3 28.6 29.0 27.5 23.5 20.1 19.0

All firearm 28.4 29.8 20.1 20.2 20.2 20.4 18.8 19.5 20.2 19.4 18.5 17.2 17.1

Firearm homicide 17.1 18.6 12.4 12.9 13.0 13.3 11.9 12.9 13.6 13.1 12.1 11.1 10.7

Firearm suicide 9.5 9.5 6.8 6.3 6.1 6.1 6.1 5.5 5.6 5.5 5.6 5.5 5.7

Male

White, non-Hispanic

All causes 135.1 126.3 120.1 123.6 125.5 126.4 124.9 128.7 133.2 130.2 125.1 114.4 113.7

All injuries 110.9 101.8 95.5 99.4 101.9 101.1 101.8 103.4 108.9 107.8 101.9 90.1 91.2

Unintentional injuries 73.4 63.6 64.2 66.3 69.0 69.1 69.4 71.9 76.2 75.3 69.1 59.4 58.8

Homicide 8.7 8.5 5.8 7.0 6.6 6.4 6.0 6.0 6.1 6.3 6.6 5.0 5.1

Suicide 27.5 28.2 23.1 23.3 23.3 22.3 23.3 22.6 22.9 22.8 23.2 23.0 24.7

Leading mechanisms of injury

Motor vehicle traffic 56.1 47.0 44.4 45.0 46.4 43.7 43.4 44.2 44.6 43.6 37.4 31.1 29.1

All firearm 26.4 26.7 19.3 19.3 19.0 19.0 17.7 17.2 17.2 17.0 18.0 16.7 17.3

Firearm homicide 5.8 6.3 4.0 4.5 4.7 4.8 3.9 4.2 4.2 4.5 4.7 3.6 3.6

Firearm suicide 18.1 18.1 14.0 13.2 12.9 12.9 12.5 11.6 11.8 11.5 12.2 12.1 12.6

Black, non-Hispanic

All causes 299.9 299.0 230.9 229.4 220.5 221.2 208.1 220.7 218.9 215.0 203.6 185.3 185.7

All injuries 246.8 241.9 187.5 185.1 179.2 180.0 166.3 178.7 180.3 175.3 160.6 142.8 148.4

Unintentional injuries 61.6 56.3 52.7 51.4 49.4 47.8 45.4 49.3 48.0 47.0 40.3 33.2 38.2

Homicide 163.1 159.0 113.3 113.3 111.3 112.7 102.4 111.5 115.0 110.4 101.2 93.5 93.1

Suicide 18.1 22.1 18.3 17.7 15.1 16.4 15.9 15.4 14.5 14.0 16.1 14.0 14.6

Leading mechanisms of injury

Motor vehicle traffic 41.7 39.5 38.6 37.9 35.4 34.4 31.9 34.8 33.5 33.9 28.2 23.5 25.0

All firearm 162.6 169.3 117.2 120.0 116.2 117.2 107.1 115.9 120.3 115.2 105.2 96.2 96.6

Firearm homicide 143.4 145.6 101.5 103.4 101.9 102.8 94.5 103.5 106.9 102.5 92.7 86.0 85.4

Firearm suicide 12.9 16.2 12.2 13.0 10.2 10.7 9.7 9.6 9.4 8.9 9.8 8.0 8.4

Hispanic

All causes 177.0 166.2 121.8 125.1 126.6 125.0 127.8 131.1 132.6 125.5 110.2 104.2 94.6

All injuries 151.5 140.2 101.3 102.5 106.4 106.1 106.2 110.7 110.8 104.1 90.3 83.9 76.3

Unintentional injuries 77.1 62.7 54.7 55.5 59.5 56.6 56.9 61.8 63.1 57.2 48.8 43.0 39.1

Homicide 59.6 59.2 32.1 34.7 33.0 34.7 32.7 33.3 32.9 32.2 28.5 26.8 23.1

Suicide 16.5 18.4 12.9 10.6 11.8 12.8 14.5 13.3 12.9 12.6 11.2 12.6 12.6

Leading mechanisms of injury

Motor vehicle traffic 53.6 43.2 38.5 41.1 42.3 40.3 41.6 43.8 46.0 38.9 32.7 29.1 24.4

All firearm 58.6 66.7 35.0 35.4 35.7 37.5 35.7 35.3 35.9 33.9 28.9 27.5 24.8

Firearm homicide 44.7 51.5 26.4 28.0 27.5 29.0 26.4 27.0 28.0 26.7 22.9 21.4 18.9

Firearm suicide 10.9 11.8 6.9 5.6 6.5 6.4 7.5 5.8 6.1 5.5 4.8 5.0 5.1

Notes at end of table.

America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014
For further information, visit http://childstats.gov 83

Table HEALTH6

(cont.)

Injury and Mortality: Death rates among young adults ages 18–24 by gender, race and

Hispanic origin,a and all causes and all injury causes,b selected years 1990–2010

(Deaths per 100,000 young adults ages 18–24)

Characteristic 1990 1995 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Female

White, non-Hispanic

All causes 46.2 45.0 45.1 43.9 46.5 48.6 47.6 47.0 47.9 48.2 44.5 43.4 44.0

All injuries 30.4 29.1 28.7 28.2 30.5 31.5 31.6 30.8 31.9 32.4 29.6 27.3 29.7

Unintentional injuries 22.2 20.8 21.7 20.6 23.2 24.3 23.8 23.2 24.6 24.5 22.2 20.0 21.7

Homicide 3.8 3.7 2.8 3.3 2.6 2.4 2.7 2.5 2.5 2.6 2.2 2.1 2.1

Suicide 4.2 4.4 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.6 4.2 4.4 3.7 4.3 4.2 4.4 5.0

Leading mechanisms of injury

Motor vehicle traffic 19.1 17.4 17.5 16.1 18.1 18.1 17.4 16.3 16.7 15.8 14.0 12.0 12.1

All firearm 4.5 4.2 3.1 2.9 2.8 2.6 2.8 2.5 2.6 3.0 2.7 2.5 2.6

Firearm homicide 1.9 1.8 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.6 1.3 1.2 1.2

Firearm suicide 2.2 2.2 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.3 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3

Black, non-Hispanic

All causes 78.5 80.4 70.4 66.8 65.5 67.2 64.9 61.8 64.5 59.4 60.7 58.3 53.9

All injuries 38.6 35.2 33.7 29.2 30.8 30.5 29.2 29.0 30.6 28.7 28.9 26.1 25.4

Unintentional injuries 14.8 14.7 17.5 16.5 16.1 14.5 15.6 15.4 15.8 15.5 14.1 13.3 13.4

Homicide 21.2 17.4 13.3 11.1 12.1 13.0 10.3 11.3 12.1 10.6 11.7 9.8 8.9

Suicide 2.2 2.4 2.7 1.3 2.1 2.6 2.8 1.8 2.3 2.0 2.7 2.3 2.4

Leading mechanisms of injury

Motor vehicle traffic 10.9 11.4 14.1 13.6 13.5 11.1 12.3 11.7 12.2 11.3 10.4 9.7 9.5

All firearm 14.1 13.7 9.3 7.8 9.5 9.7 8.0 8.3 10.0 8.3 9.9 8.4 7.7

Firearm homicide 12.3 12.0 8.0 7.0 8.6 8.5 6.6 7.4 9.1 7.3 8.8 7.5 6.4

Firearm suicide 1.2 1.3 1.1 * * * 1.2 * * * 1.0 * 1.0

Hispanic

All causes 42.9 39.2 34.3 34.4 35.3 37.4 33.1 38.1 36.5 35.0 31.7 31.9 30.6

All injuries 26.1 23.3 19.8 20.0 20.9 22.0 20.9 23.7 21.7 20.4 18.4 16.6 18.3

Unintentional injuries 14.8 14.7 13.2 13.1 14.6 13.7 14.5 16.3 14.5 13.7 12.4 10.7 11.3

Homicide 8.5 6.6 4.7 4.6 4.0 5.5 3.5 4.0 4.3 4.1 3.8 3.4 3.0

Suicide 3.2 2.1 1.7 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.3 2.1 2.1 2.2 3.6

Leading mechanisms of injury

Motor vehicle traffic 12.4 11.8 11.1 10.9 12.1 11.2 11.9 13.5 11.6 11.0 8.9 8.1 8.7

All firearm 6.9 6.3 3.4 3.3 2.7 4.0 2.7 2.7 2.9 3.1 3.0 2.8 2.2

Firearm homicide 5.0 4.6 2.7 2.6 2.1 3.2 2.1 2.0 2.5 2.6 2.5 2.2 1.7

Firearm suicide 1.7 1.2 * * * * * * * * * * *

* Number of deaths too few to calculate a reliable rate.

a

 The 1977 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards for data on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into one of the following three racial 

groups: White, Black, or Asian or Pacific Islander. Death rates for American Indians or Alaskan Natives are not shown separately because the numbers of deaths 

were too small for the calculation of reliable rates and American Indians are underreported on the death certificate. CA, HI, ID, ME, MT, NY, and WI reported 

multiple-race data in 2003. In 2004, the following states began to report multiple-race data: MI, MN, NH, NJ, OK, SD, WA, and WY. In 2005, the following 

states began to report multiple-race data: CT, FL, KS, NE, SC, UT, and DC (mid-year). In 2006, NM, OR, RI, and TX began to report multiple-race data. In 

2007, DE and OH began to report multiple-race data. In 2008, AR, GA, IL, IN, NV, ND, and VT began to report multiple-race data. In 2010, AZ, KY, and 

MO began to report multiple-race data. In 2011, IA began to report multiple-race data. The multiple-race data for these states were bridged to the single-race 

categories of the 1977 OMB standards for comparability with other states, rather than following the revised 1997 OMB standards for a select group of states. In 

addition, note that data on race and Hispanic origin are collected and reported separately. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race. Trends for the Hispanic 

population are affected by an expansion in the number of registration areas that included an item on Hispanic origin on the death certificate. Tabulations are 

restricted to a subset of the states that include the item on the death certificate and that meet a minimal quality standard. The quality of reporting has improved 

substantially over time, so that the minimal quality standard was relaxed in 1992 for those areas reporting Hispanic origin on at least 80 percent of records. The 

number of states in the reporting area increased from 44 states and DC in 1989 to 45 states, New York State (excluding New York City), and DC in 1990; 47 

states, New York State (excluding New York City), and DC in 1991; 48 states and DC in 1992; and 49 states and DC in 1993–1996. Complete reporting began 

in 1997. The population data in 1990 and 1991 do not exclude New York City. Data for Hispanic origin and specified race populations other than White, nonHispanic and Black, non-Hispanic should be interpreted with caution because of inconsistencies between reporting race and Hispanic origin on death certificates 

and on censuses and surveys.

b

 Cause-of-death information for 1990–1998 is classified according to the Ninth Revision of the International Classification of Diseases. Cause-of-death information 

for 1999–2010 is classified according to the Tenth Revision of the International Classification of Diseases.

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System.
84

Table HEALTH7 Nonfatal Violent Victimization Rates: Number and rate of nonfatal violent victimizations 

of young adults ages 18–24 by gender and race and Hispanic origina of victim, 

selected years 1993–2012

Characteristic 1993 1995 2000 2005 2010 2011 2012

Number of violent victimizations

Male

Total 2,076,542 1,893,800 1,167,828 1,063,738 479,855 815,626 642,721

White, non-Hispanic 1,580,787 1,424,485 872,121 824,447 328,327 509,331 394,258

Black, non-Hispanic 200,172 152,660 162,608 103,128 38,409 * 71,277 87,717

American Indian/Alaska 

Native, non-Hispanic 37,424 * 25,496 * 0 * 0 * 23,627 * 10,822 * 0 *

Asian/Pacific Islander, 

non-Hispanic 22,527 * 24,459 * 8,549 * 11,219 * 1,863 * 11,412 * 39,801

More than one race, 

non-Hispanic — — — 0 * 4,366 * 14,836 * 10,414 *

Hispanic 235,632 266,700 124,550 124,944 83,263 197,948 110,531

Female

Total 1,564,958 1,492,520 830,732 676,981 532,198 645,847 614,741

White, non-Hispanic 1,030,825 1,000,915 582,079 379,882 295,629 283,474 414,774

Black, non-Hispanic 361,145 264,040 114,455 101,575 107,514 242,064 62,333

American Indian/Alaska 

Native, non-Hispanic 26,267 * 9,746 * 15,842 * 47,241 * 4,535 * 3,991 * 3,530 *

Asian/Pacific Islander, 

non-Hispanic 34,324 * 8,587 * 8,923 * 13,224 * 7,328 * 5,906 * 6,954 *

More than one race, 

non-Hispanic — — — 7,409 * 18,583 * 22,370 * 24,531 *

Hispanic 112,397 209,232 109,433 127,650 98,609 88,042 102,619

Rate of violent victimization per 1,000 persons

Male

Total 161.7 152.0 87.4 73.8 31.7 53.9 41.3

White, non-Hispanic 176.2 167.3 101.5 91.3 36.1 57.6 46.1

Black, non-Hispanic 126.8 99.0 92.5 61.1 19.8 * 39.4 40.2

American Indian/Alaska 

Native, non-Hispanic 414.5 * 307.4 * 0.0 * 0.0 * 174.8 * 91.3 * 0.0 *

Asian/Pacific Islander, 

non-Hispanic 42.7 * 49.6 * 14.9 * 15.7 * 2.2 * 13.9 * 42.3

More than one race, 

non-Hispanic — — — 0.0 * 19.2 * 55.0 * 32.8 *

Hispanic 140.9 145.7 52.5 44.7 28.5 60.3 31.9

Female

Total 121.6 118.9 62.5 47.9 36.1 44.1 40.7

White, non-Hispanic 116.5 119.0 68.7 43.6 32.8 33.8 49.9

Black, non-Hispanic 186.8 140.4 56.8 52.1 51.1 109.4 27.9

American Indian/Alaska 

Native, non-Hispanic 232.9 * 92.1 * 176.9 * 539.6 * 66.9 * 48.9 * 41.5 *

Asian/Pacific Islander, 

non-Hispanic 76.7 * 17.1 * 16.9 * 18.6 * 10.7 * 7.9 * 9.2 *

More than one race, 

non-Hispanic — — — 57.1 * 110.0 * 80.8 * 69.4 *

Hispanic 73.7 126.7 50.1 50.0 36.6 30.0 30.4

— Not available.

* Interpret data with caution; estimate based on 10 or fewer sample cases.

a

 For data before 2003, the 1977 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards for data on race and ethnicity were used to classify persons into one of 

the following four racial groups: White, Black, American Indian or Alaskan Native, or Asian or Pacific Islander. The revised 1997 OMB standards on race and 

ethnicity were used for data from 2003 and later years. Under these standards, persons could select one or more of five racial groups: White, Black or African 

American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Those reporting more than one race were classified as “Two or 

more races.” For 2003 and after, when separate reporting was possible, respondents who reported being Asian or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander were 

combined for continuity purposes. Also, beginning in 2003, those in a given racial category represent those reporting only that race. Data from 2003 onward are 

not directly comparable with data from earlier years. Data on race and Hispanic origin are collected separately. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey.

America’s Young Adults: Special Issue, 2014